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Ethonobotanicals from Africa

January 23rd 2008 01:30
Continuing on from Part 1 of Lisa Phipps.

Now, these two really are hidden treasures…

Baobab Oil (inci: Adansonia digitata)
One of Africa’s best-kept secrets! With high amounts of Alpha and Beta-carotene, amino acids and other nutrients, this oil is a stand out skin and metabolic nutritive. Every inch of this tree offers “life support” so to speak, including the seeds, bark, and fruit. However it is the oil from the seeds that is most valued for the skin as it is rich in proteins, thiamine, very high in EFAs and vitamins A, D, E and F.

Coming from one of the oldest trees recorded, with some spanning up to 3,000 years, this rich golden emollient oil has been part of African skincare for centuries.


Baobab provides some impressive moisturising benefits to the skin and hair. As an example of a fast absorbing oil, baobab is suitable not only for the improvement of elasticity to the skin in general but is also suitable for facial skin care, as it encourages the regeneration of skin cells and is non-comedogenic.

Baobab exhibits hair shine and protection abilities, vital dermal protection and elasticity as well as supporting cell regeneration.

Baobab may be the secret active, but how about the most popular and treasured skincare emollient Africa has to offer? Well arguably, it has to be Marula Oil.

Marula Oil (inci: Sclerocarya birrea)
Native of North Central Namibia, and many parts of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, marula oil is indeed Africa's miracle oil. Coming from the same family as mangoes, poison ivy and cashew nuts, the plum sized fruit from this wondrous plant is often responsible for getting elephants drunk when they feast on it.

Marula is one of Africa’s greatest skincare oils with remarkable qualities such as a very high level of natural antioxidants, oleic acid, and essential components for the maintenance of healthy skin. Key attributes of this great oil cosmetically, in combination with such superior nutritional value are: fast absorption, assisting with hydration and reduction of TEWL, helps to reduce redness and vascular pigmentation, and the healing of tissue. These attributes offer facial skin, smoothness, plumpness and elasticity making it an innovative choice for modern cosmetic formulas.


The composition of marula is very similar to that of olive oil, so no wonder there are such valuable attributes shared between the two. Marula however is truly precious and quite expensive in comparison to the best Virgin Olive Oil, and is more useful for treating cracked skin on thicker epidermal layers such as the feet, while nourishing and soothing stressed tissue such as the lips or other fragile mucus membrane.

Next entrey for something different. A compound for cleansing that is so unique, so pure and so good for your skin. Well it’s called a soap, but not actually a soap at all…


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Fat Fads 3

November 30th 2007 01:03
Leading on from Fat Fads 2, the ratios of EFAs in the diet are the source of some consideration. Various optimal ratios have been recommended from 1:1, 2:1 to 5:1. These ratios are based on the traditional hunter-gatherer diet. Interestingly the World Health Organisation recommends a ratio as high as 10:1 but that may be because it reflects the ratios in a typical Western diet.

Why are ratios important? The reason is that EFA imbalances are directly involved in inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, eczema, allergies and IBS. Inflammation is also a contributing factor in many chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease so the less inflammation we have being created the our long term health.

The problem as indicated above is that the typical Western diet provides ratios of between 10:1 and 30:1 in favour of omega 6 fatty acids. It is perhaps no wonder then that there is such a high prevalence of inflammatory conditions in Western countries.

Since hunter-gatherer times, dietary patterns have changed. Significantly since the emergence of agriculture there has been a steady increase in the consumption of omega 6 at the expense of omega 3 fatty acids. Grains are rich in omega 6 and our heavily weighted grain diets are the key reason for the imbalanced ratio.

The second factor, occurring about 50 years ago was the introduction of grain fed cattle. Until this point beef was a good source of omega 3 fatty acids. Soon after this we invented margarine and which was promoted as the miracle replacement for butter. Once again the refined oils used in margarines are rich in omega 6 (and nasty trans fats but more about these in another blog as well as why butter is better).

Unlike omega 6 which is found in grains, refined oils and grain fed animals, omega 3 is rich in plant foods, nuts & seeds and deep sea fish. Considered super foods these are sorely lacking in the Western Diet. And given the over abundance of grains and omega 6 it is quite difficult to improve the ratio of omega 3 in our diet.

A look at the food pyramid and where fats feature next time.
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Myth Busting Fat Fads 2

November 23rd 2007 03:39
I have been on holidays in rainy Auckland and so took a break from everything including this blog. I did however learn about healing after slamming my finger in the car door. Injuries aside I am back on track now so in part two of Fat Fads I want to look at good fats versus bad fats. I have written some on this topic before but would like to explore this topic more.

Today I particularly want to discuss the balance of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). The general gist, well supported by research is that essential fatty acids (called essential because you need them to survive and the body cannot produce its own source) are the most important biological fats. There are two types of EFAs, omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6 fatty acids.

EFA’s are needed for many various bodily functions including:

1. Energy production
2. Cell membrane structure and fluidity
3. Oxygen transfer from air to blood
4. Blood cell manufacture
5. Inflammation moderation

They are also essential for brain and eye development in children. Recently Catalyst on the ABC had a program on the ageing brain. The show looked at the role EFAs play in brain health and outlined that a deficiency can lead to accelerated brain shrinkage (a natural ageing process).

There are many factors that increase the demand for EFAs including alcohol and smoking, arthritis, digestive disorders, diabetes and obesity, heart disease – elevated triglycerides and cholesterol, inflammatory and immune disorders, mental disorders, skin disorders and stress.

Based on the list above it is easy to see why there is such a demand for EFAs in our diet.

Next blog on Fat Fads will look at the ratios of omega 6 to omega 3 required in our diets for optimal health and what happens if this ratio is out of balance.
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Myth Busting the Fat Fad

October 25th 2007 04:06
Fats have a bad reputation. They are blamed for the obesity epidemic we are currently experiencing as well as many of chronic diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. But are fats the “bad” food we make them out to be?

In this fat blog, I address myth that fats cause heart disease and obesity


[ Click here to read more ]
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A Food As Medicine Seminar Series

October 20th 2007 01:28
As part of this blog I have decided to do a 8 part series called:

Food As Medicine - the Basics.
[ Click here to read more ]
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Fats - The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

October 19th 2007 08:42
Fats have a bad name and we are told to avoid fats in our everyday diets. However, some fats are very important for our general wellbeing including healthy, radiant skin. Nutrition has moved away from the “all fats are bad” stance to “it’s the type of fat that matters, not the quantity”. Fats are an essential part of our diet but it is important to focus on the good fats in our diets and minimise the bad fats.

Beneficial fats “good” fats support healthy skin cell nutrition and the production of collagen as well as maintaining healthy blood flow to the skin. Fats help to absorb nutrients such as vitamin A and E which maintain skin integrity and fluidity. Good fats also help to moderate inflammation, which assists with the management of many skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis


[ Click here to read more ]
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Antioxidants for Anti-Aging

October 10th 2007 00:53
Every day we are exposed to air pollution, sunlight, smoke and more, all which create "free radicals". The food we eat can also contribute to free radical damage and inflammation. Refined sugar, soft drink, white bread, pasta and excess coffee all contribute to the chemical reactions that produce free radicals. Among other effects in the body, free radicals attack your skin's collagen layer, accelerating the creation of fine lines and wrinkles. This process is called, "photo aging". Much research has been done with regard to the benefits of antioxidants to combat the production of free radicals. Recent research has shown us that topical Vitamin C can help to improve skin tone and elasticity, helps re-build collagen and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Plant antioxidants also help stop free radical skin damage. Grapeseed and green tea are specific skin antioxidants as are vitamin A from carrot seed oil, B6 and zinc


[ Click here to read more ]
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Spice Up Your Life

October 5th 2007 04:12
Common spices used every day in kitchens are more than just flavoursome ingredients. Many also have significant therapeutic value and when used regularly can help maintain wellbeing. This article looks at the healing and culinary qualities of 5 common spices: Ginger, Tumeric, Cumin, Cinnamon and Black Pepper.

Ginger
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Cinnamon is a well known spice with an extensive history of use as a pungent and sweet flavouring agent. Cinnamon spice or True Cinnamon comes primarily from Sri Lankan and is known as Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Another species closely related to True Cinnamon is called Cinnamomum cassia. This species of cinnamon is now thought to be an inferior substitute to Cinnamomum zeylanicum (1).

New research on this common spice has shown that cinnamon may significantly help people with type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes improve their ability to regulate their blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is far more common than Type 1, accounting for up to 85% of people with diabetes (2). In Type 2 diabetes the pancreas does produce insulin which is the hormone that tells the body to remove excess glucose in the bloodstream, however, the cells that usually take glucose up from the blood become resistant to the effects of insulin. This results in high blood glucose levels


[ Click here to read more ]
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Foods that heal...Tomatoes

November 2nd 2006 06:10
Tomatoes are a bonus food
The Mediterranean diet is rich in tomatoes, but our culture is only recently becoming aware of its benefits.

Tomataoes contain the antioxidants, Vitamin E and Vitamin C plus beta carotene. These antioxidants have abilities that decrease the risks of cancer, heart disease and cataracts.

[ Click here to read more ]
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Foods that heal...Yoghurt

October 25th 2006 00:00
Natural yoghurt has many healing benefits

Yoghurt is known for its high nutritional value. It is a great source of calcium which helps to improve bone strength and density as well as containing a good source of B vitamins needed for energy and cell growth.

[ Click here to read more ]
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Foods that Heal...Rice Bran Oil (RBO)

October 18th 2006 00:00
www.dreamstime.com

Rice bran oil is extracted from the bran of brown rice. It is very popular in Asia, but is only recently become available on supermaket shelves in Australia.

[ Click here to read more ]
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Foods that heal...Seaweed

October 10th 2006 00:24
www.dreamstime.com

Due to the introduction of Sushi bars and Japanese cuisine to our culture; seaweed is now becoming more prevalent in our diet.

[ Click here to read more ]
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Foods that heal...Chili

October 3rd 2006 00:02
Chili is mainly known as a little vegetable with a powerful punch. It burns the mouth, lips and anything else that comes in contact with it. For some types this is true but there is a variety of different chili's vailable that have a range of heat strengths and flavours.

Chili has also shown a number of therapeutic benefits that are worth taking note of:

[ Click here to read more ]
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