Rawpower

In this newsletter:

• Article: "Healthy Hair, Skins & Nails" by Michelle Ovens
• "I want healthy hands" article offer
• Recipe: Kelp Noodles with Broccoli Sprouts & Tahini
• Christmas Chocolate Recipes eBook
• Christmas Special Offers
• Free Gift Wrapping
• Christmas Gift Ideas & Treats

ARTICLE

Healthy Hair, Skin & Nails!

      by Michelle Ovens, Naturopath

Summer is a great time to shed some layers, expose a little bit more skin, and enjoy those sensational balmy nights. It is usually the time when you realise your hair, skin and nails need a bit more attention also. The condition of your hair, skin and nails can be outward signs of your overall health and can indicate where you may be lacking in the nutritional department.

Hair and nails reflect the health of the body two to six months previously. Skin reflects any imbalances much more immediately. The skin is the largest organ of the body and is responsible for the elimination of a variety of toxins. This of course means that much of what is going on inside will quickly be reflected in the appearance of your skin.

The good news is, you can help your body with foods and nutrients.

• Protein: is the building blocks of all cells in your body; all 73 trillion of them. An easily digested and absorbed protein is Ezy Protein Biofermented Brown Rice Protein Powder. My recommendation is the chocolate one as it has added cacao powder. Raw cacao has over 70 minerals and vitamins.

• Iron: Tired and lacking in energy? This may be a symptom of low iron. Hair, nails and skin can also suffer if you're lacking in iron. Skin may be very pale, become itchy, or there could be cracking at the side of the mouth (this could also be a Vitamin B deficiency). Nails can become brittle and develop vertical stripes, or even become spoon-shaped. You could shed more hair and it will be noticeably more dry, brittle and dull.

Lentils, cashews, tahini, almonds, figs, dates and pumpkin seeds are high in iron.

• Vitamin C is essential to make collagen, the structural cement of the body. Under the skin, collagen is the fibrous tissue that plumps it up giving support and shape. As skin ages it loses collagen. Kiwi fruit, oranges, guava, capsicum, dark leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts, papaya, strawberries, mango, blueberries and tomato are high in natural vitamin c. Acai and rosehips are also high in Vitamin C. A great superfood supplement is the Berry Ultimate Antioxidant Blend or Merry Berry Superfood blend.

• A combination of silica, manganese, magnesium and calcium with zinc are essential for strong and healthy hair skin and nail growth. There are a lot of supplements on the market, including some Practitioner Only products that promise the world and are not worth the money spent on them. I’ve been in the Health Food Industry for over 17 years now and I’ve seen just about every claim made. Herbs are usually the better way to go as opposed to a capsule or tablet. If you do decide to use a supplement, look for ingredients that are ALL chelated. Herbs such as Horsetail (filled with natural silica) are great for encouraging fast and strong growth, though if there is any metal plates, pins, pacemakers, aortic stents etc, they will be dissolved by the horsetail. Also known as Equisetum, this magnificent plant can dissolve gold if left in solution! It is fantastic for gout crystals, kidney stones, excess uric acid, calcium spurs etc. It does come with a warning; ensure you only use it for a short time. Best used under the supervision of a Medical Herbalist.

• MSM powder is another product you can add into your daily meals. Sulphur is the building blocks of all cells. It is used in every enzyme process, in every hormone production, in every metabolic pathway within the body. Sulphur is also in beans, eggs, fish, garlic, lentils, onions, and yoghurt.

• Nettles: as in Stinging Nettles. According to Sergi Boutenko, Wild Edibles expert, nettles are one of natures most nutritious wild foods, they are rich in iron, silica, calcium, vitamins A, D & K. Nettles soothe and prevent hay fever and allergies. Regulates blood sugar and improves circulation. Nettles also help rheumatism and arthritis; in many cultures people would thrash themselves with nettles to help these conditions. Eating them is said to be helpful for stiff muscles after exercise. And of course, they are magnificent for glowing skin, luscious locks and healthy nails. Best in the form of herbal tinctures if you cannot get it wild, though drinking 1-2 cups of tea a day could be beneficial also.
  
  

"I WANT HEALTHY HANDS" ARTICLE OFFER

We have a bottle of Maia Organics Hand, Nail & Cuticle Conditioner 25ml for the first 12 orders over $100 with the words: "I want healthy hands" in the shipping details of your order. It's an intensely nourishing blend of organic essential oils and base oils to nourish, repair and rejuvenate your hands, nails and cuticles.

RECIPE

Kelp Noodles with Avocado, Broccoli Sprouts and Tahini

• ½ pack kelp noodles
• 1 avocado
• ¼ cup broccoli sprouts
• ¼ cup sunflower sprouts
• 1 tomato diced

Dressing

• 1 tbsp unhulled tahini
• 1 tspn hemp oil
• 1-2 tbsp miso
• 2 tbsp tamari
• 2 tbsp cashew or pecan nut butter
• 2-4 tbsp agave nectar
• water to desired consistency

Combine all dressing ingredients together and pour over the top of the kelp noodles and other ingredients. Mix gently and enjoy.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL OFFERS

	Buy one David Wolfe Raw Omega-3+ Astaxanthin 60 caps and one Ocean's Alive Marine Phytoplankton and get one Estroblock 60 caps for fr.ee! Click here and add this bundle to your shopping cart.
	Buy a Kuvings Silent Juicer and get a Kuvings 6.7" Ceramic Knife (value $69) and Kuvings/NUC Antibacterial Chopping Board (value $39) as your fr.ee bonus.

GIFT WRAPPING  

We are offering free gift wrapping for the following great gifts:

• Spirooli
• Spiralizer
• Fill2Pure Stainless Steel 800ml Water Bottle

Just select this free option when adding it to your cart.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS & TREATS 

TOP OF THE RANGE

1 Semak Vitacrush Blender - VCE1500B

2 Sedona Dehydrator

3 Vitamix - Super Package

SPECIAL GIFTS

4 JUICER Semak VitaJuice	5 Barefoot Recovery Bag	6 EasyGreen Sprouter
7 Semak Vitacrush Mini Blender - VCM1050	8 Ejuva Body Cleanse	9 Ezivac Vacuum Packing System
10 Progurt Discovery pack	11 Barefoot Bed Pad Sleep System	12 Barefoot Earthing Organic Cotton Throw
13 Zen Chi Bio Energiser	14 Gift Voucher	15 Fill2Pure Stainless Steel Water Bottle 800ml Silver

BUDGET GIFTS & STOCKING STUFFERS

16 Barefoot Earthing Mat	17 Spirooli Vegetable Slicer	18 Spiralizer
19 Excalibur Non Stick Sheet	20 Nut Milk Bag-Large	21 Barefoot Earthing Mouse Pad

YUMMY CHRISTMAS TREATS

22 Raw Chocolates & Snacks	23 Chocolate Maia Raw Organic - Beetroot & Citrus Crunch Block 200g	24 Chocolate Maia Raw Organic - Coconut Mylk Crunch Frogs 60g
25 Chocolate Maia Raw Organic - Lavender Crunch Heart 60g	26 Chocolate Maia Raw Organic - Wattleseed Crunch Block 200g	27 Pecans Raw Organic 1kg
28 Active Almonds - Curry 200g	29 Active Almonds - Cajun 200g	30 Active Almonds - Salt and Vinegar 200g

Spirulina is a complete protein consisting of 65-71% protein. It contains all eight amino acids and eighteen amino acids in total.

While protein is useful for building muscles and strength, it is also beneficial for building endurance, balancing blood sugar, balancing brain chemistry for neurological health, for rapid healing, building strong bones and much more

Unlike animal foods, Spirulina is a pure raw source of complete protein. It is rich in Vitamins A (beta carotene), B1, B2, B6, E and K. It is an abundant natural source of chlorophyll, salts, phytonutrients and enzymes. Spirulina is the best source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) – an anti inflammatory essential fatty acid necessary for a healthy nervous system.

Spirulina As A Blood Builder

Clinical experience has taught me that all the studies conducted about the anemia alleviating abilities of spirulina are true – even for our animal friends! I've found that spirulina has been extremely effective in alleviating anemia, increasing hemoglobin, increasing red blood cell formation, reducing platelet aggregation and improving the overall quality of the blood.

This is due to the following reasons:

• spirulina contains high concentrations of chlorophyll – a well documented blood builder

• it is high in iron

• it is rich in phycocyanin – a brilliant blue polypeptide. It is this wonderful blue pigment that helps induce the production of more stem cells found in bone marrow. Stem cells are the beginning rudimentary cells that can develop into both red and white blood cells

Spirulina As A Powerful Immune System Booster

Spirulina is a powerful tonic for the immune system, accelerating production of the humeral aspect of the immune system. This increases the production of antibodies and cytokines including interferons and interleukins (white blood cells) allowing the body to better protect itself agains invasive microbes and viruses.

The production of bone marrow stem cells, T-fighter cells, macrophages (immune system 'mops'), B-cells and the anti cancer Natural Killer (NK) cells increases markedly.

Gamma-linolenic Acid in Spirulia

In an excerpt taken from Paul Pichford, Healing with Whole Foods:

“The richest whole food sources of GLA are mother's milk, spirulina microalgae and the seeds of borage, black currant and evening primrose. GLA is important for growth and development and is found most abundantly in mother's milk. Spirulina is the next highest whole food source”.

GLA is an essential fatty acid, hence it promotes beautifully soft skin and hair whilst also encouraging shiny and strong hair.

As GLA inhibits the formation of inflammatory prostaglandins, spirulina is an excellent choice in reducing the inflammatory symptoms of arthritis.

When purchasing spirulina, select a product with a 'fresh smell'. When spirulina starts to go bad, it smells sour and rancid.

Avoid products that use 'tableting agents' which help keep spirulina tablets from crumbling to powder. Spirulina naturally clings to itself and can be pressed into tablets without tableting agents.

Can you dose with too much spirulina? Yes, of course you can. You will know if you have too much as it will pass straight through you. Spirulina is also non fattening – at only 4 calories per gram, it is a low calorie, nutrient dense superfood.

RECIPE

GREEN HIT NOODLES

Serves 1-2 people. Keeps for a day when refrigerated in a sealed container. I
like to change my sprouts around a bit so I'll often change the alfalfa
sprouts to Sunflower sprouts. Have fun with your sprouts

Put the oil, tahini, spirulina, apple cider vinegar in the bowl you'll be eating out of and mash together. Add the seeds and mash again. Add the sprouts and mix. Rinse the kelp noodles and add those, mixing for a final time.

Eat with love and appreciation for all things green, knowing you are feeding your body some pretty amazing nutrients. For an alternative, you may wish to substitute all marinate ingredients with Namu shoyu & tamari.

About Broccoli Sprouts
In past studies, compounds in broccoli sprouts have been shown to reduce the risk of getting breast and colon cancer and to act as an anti-bacterial agent against Helicobacter pylori, an organism associated with causing stomach ulcers. As reported in the May 10, 2004 edition of Time, a new study indicates that eating broccoli sprouts may cut the risk of stroke, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Broccoli sprouts contain phytochemicals called isothiocyanates including sulphorophanes, which induce enzymes that reduce inflammation and detoxify carcinogens. They're also rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals (while being low in calories). So far, research shows this combination of nutrients and phytonutrients means cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli sprouts, may prevent cancer and help soothe airway inflammation.