Top 10 Anti-Aging Herbs and Spices

Alternative health guru Dr. Joseph Mercola reveals his top 10 herbs and spices to prevent disease and combat aging.
 http://www.mercola.com/

Dr. Joseph Mercola’s unorthodox methods have made him one of the most controversial figures in the world of alternative medicine. Here, Dr. Mercola counts down the 10 most powerful spices you may already have in your kitchen that can fight aging and prevent disease. He suggests you incorporate a variety of these spices into your daily meals to maximize your benefit – consuming just 1 teaspoon a day of any of these herbs and spices can have a positive effect on your health. When choosing between fresh or dried herbs, Dr. Mercola suggests that the fresh variety is more powerful. In general, the more fragrant the herb, the stronger its benefits. You can, however, get nearly the same benefits from dried herbs if you store them in an airtight container out of direct sunlight.

10. Protect Your Skin Cells: Italian Spice
Damaged skin cells make us look older prematurely. Dr. Mercola recommends adding an Italian spice blend to your cooking, which may provide vital protection on the cellular level. Basil, Italian spice blend’s key ingredient, is loaded with antioxidants that can protect your cells from harmful free radicals – the damaging molecules that also contribute to heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease.

9. Heal From Infections Faster: Thyme
Bacterial infections can range from a common sore throat to potentially deadly pneumonia. Studies have shown that thyme can kill MSRA bacteria, which lead to staph infections. Additionally, extracts of thyme are used in mouthwashes to treat inflammations and in cough drops to treat throat infections.

8. Fight Inflammation: Sage
Inflammation on the cellular level is the main reason the body ages faster than it should. Dr. Mercola adds sage to his meals to fight inflammation. This herb can help fight inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and atherosclerosis, which causes a hardenening of the arteries.

7. Improve Digestion and Sleep: Marjoram 
A healthy digestive system and a good night’s sleep are essential to your overall health. Studies show that incorporating marjoram into your diet may activate cells that aid digestion. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try adding five drops of marjoram oil, available in health food stores, to a warm bath. The herb’s essential oils may relieve stress, helping you sleep soundly through the night.

6. Immunity Booster: Oregano
Numerous studies have demonstrated the antioxidant properties of oregano. Its active agent, rosmarinic acid, clears out the free radicals that age us and contribute to disease. Additionally, oregano is also one of the strongest and most effective broad-spectrum antibiotics and antifungals out there. It can help kill Candida, or yeast infection, as well as fungal nail infections.

5. Keep Your Heart Young: Apple Pie Spice
Ginger is the key ingredient in this aromatic spice blend. The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger keep your heart young and your arteries clear. Additionally, ginger helps protect against harmful bacteria and fungi. It boosts the immune system and can protect against atherosclerosis by lowering cholesterol levels and preventing the oxidation of LDL (the bad cholesterol). As an additional benefit, ginger is a potent treatment for nausea.

4. Stimulate Digestive Juices: Jamaican Allspice 
Allspice is produced from the fruit of the Pimenta dioica plant and has a complex peppery taste that resembles a mix of cinnamon, juniper, clove and nutmeg. To keep your gut healthy, Dr. Mercola recommends rubbing Jamaican allspice on your meat and vegetables or sprinkling it in your soups. It’s terrific for its anti-gas effects, and it aids digestion. Jamaican allspice also helps keep blood sugar under control, which is one of the primary ways to keep your arteries young.

3. Relieve Stiffness Due to Arthritis: Cinnamon
As we age, many of us may experience muscle and joint pain due to arthritis. Cinnamon contains anti-inflammatory compounds that can help relieve that pain. Furthermore, cinnamon’s antibiotic properties help prevent urinary tract infections, tooth decay and gum disease, and have been shown to kill the harmful bacteria, E.coli.

2. Fight Just About Everything: Cloves
Dr. Mercola describes cloves as “cinnamon on steroids.” Like cinnamon, cloves can be beneficial against muscle pains and arthritis. Of all spices, cloves received the highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) Score, meaning it is the highest in antioxidants. Additionally, cloves contain eugenol, which has mild anesthetic benefits useful for toothaches, gum pain, and sore throats. Cloves also offer relief from respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis, and eliminate intestinal parasites, fungi, and bacteria. It makes you wonder, is there anything cloves can’t do?

1. Prevent Cancer and Alzheimer’s: Turmeric 
Far too many of us have felt the effects of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease in our lives. Yet in India, where turmeric is widely used, the prevalence of the four most-common US cancers is 10 times lower. Researchers attribute this, in part, to curcumin, the compound that gives turmeric its yellow color. Laboratory studies suggest that curcumin is effective both in protecting against cancer and in inducing the programmed death of colon cancer cells. Furthermore, population studies have shown that elderly villagers in India appear to have the lowest rate of Alzheimer's disease in the world.

When it comes to combating aging, the best approach is adopting a healthy lifestyle. That means regular physical activity, quality sleep, and packing your diet full of healthy foods. According to Dr. Mercola, adding some or all of these spices to your cooking won’t just spice up your meal, it may just save your life. 

Tropical Traditions Organic Body lotion

Tropical Traditions Body Lotion

Organic Moisturizing Lotions

100% Pure
for Hand, Face and Body
Unscented or with organic essential oils

Filipinos are well-known for their youthful appearance and soft skin, even though they live in a climate that exposes them to the sun’s rays year round. Coconut oil is their main dietary oil, and is also the main ingredient in their skin care products.

All of the moisturizing lotions that Tropical Traditions offers are made with organic Virgin Coconut Oil and Virgin Palm Oil. No other products on the market are made with finer oils as their base. Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil is traditionally made from fresh organic coconuts, and independent laboratory tests show that it has a higher level of antioxidants than other coconut oils.

Virgin Palm Oil contains high concentrations of a powerful form of Vitamin E called “tocotrienols” which published research has shown is 40–60 times more potent than alpha-tocopherol (the most common form of Vitamin E found as an additive in most skin care products.) In addition to these powerful Vitamin E tocotrienols, Virgin Palm Oil is also rich in natural carotenes. It is one of the richest natural plant sources of carotenes with concentrations of 500–700 ppm. It is 15 times more retinol-equivalent than carrots and 300 times more than tomatoes, for example. 

BONUS…

My followers will be able to acquire their own complimentary copy of our Virgin Coconut Oil book by taking part in our Referral Program: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/referral_program.htm, if you choose "referred by a friend" and enter code : 7156110

Link to our customer service page http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/customerservice.cfm so your followers can email us if they need some help placing their first web order to capture the free book. We have step-by-step instructions we can provide for your site, please just let us know if you’d like to receive a copy.
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Product Information Lipstick and Lead: Questions and Answers

Product Information Lipstick and Lead: Questions and Answers

Check this out...did you favorite Lipstick make the cut?

How is Shea Butter made?

Cleopatra often gets asked how her wonderful 100% organic Shea butter is made. Although modern technology has made quite a bit of advancement in the area of cosmetology, the best way to make pure Shea butter is the traditional or old school way. Making it by hand allows the entire process to be watched carefully and provides the best quality Shea butter.
Gathering the Fruit
The process of making Shea Butter begins by  picking the ripe fruit of the African Shea tree. Once it is gathered, the outer part of the fruit is scraped away. Then the nut or seed is left to dry in the sun.
Cracking the Nut
When dry, the women of the community gather together. They use small rocks to crack open the Shea nut and to remove the outer shell. 
Pulverizing the Meat
Next, the Shea nut meat must be crushed. The meat of the nut is hard. It takes heavy stone mortars and pestles to crush the Shea nut meat. 

Roasting the Goodies
The crushed nut meat is placed in large pots over open fires. The women constantly stir the Shea nut meat to keep the meat and the butter from burning. It is hot, laborious work. The butter gets heavier and harder to stir as it thickens. The smoke from the flames gives the butter its slight smoky fragrance  .
Grinding and Mixing
After the Shea nut meat has finished roasting, the mixture is placed back into the pestles and ground into a smooth paste consistency.
Separation
The paste is mixed by hand with small amounts of water. This separates out the butter oils from the meat. As the oil curds rise, they are scooped out. Then, they are squeezed to remove any excess water.
Evaporation
Next, the fresh curds are placed in large pots and melted slowly over fires. The melted curds are slowly boiled to remove any leftover water.Shaping
The creamy yellow butter is ladled from the pots and left to harden. Once cooled, the butter is formed into balls. Then, it is ready to place into containers and ship.
The purest form of organic Shea butter is made with these steps. Some companies will add fragrance or flavors to the butter to make it appeal to their clientele. These fragranced or flavored options are typically favored for the lips and hands.

Cleopatra’s Choice has a wide variety of products for everything from skin to hair. Come see what pampering we have in store for you.                                                 Cleopatras choice

Agadir Argan Oil Daily Moisturizing Shampoo

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Agadir Argan Oil Daily Moisturizing Shampoo is a sulfate free shampoo infused with argan oil. It gently cleanses while infusing hair with argan oil and other nutrients. The creamy lather helps repair chemically damaged hair, leaving it soft, shiny and full of body improving the hair's overall health. Agadir Argan Oil Daily Moisturizing Shampoo is color safe and will extend the life of your color.

What Is Argan Oil?
Often referred to as “liquid gold,” argan oil has long been valued in Morroco for its cosmetic and medicinal benefits. Extremely rich in vitamin E, antioxidant-packed argan oil has also been prominent in European skincare products for centuries.  Produced from the kernels of a rare and ancient tree, argan oil is all natural and completely organic.


I am so impressed with this  shampoo.  I  have dry curly hair and have always had the problem of my  being frizzy when I let my hair  dry naturally.  After the first time using this shampoo, no more frizz! My hair is now full of really soft shiny soft curls. My hair has never felt like this, at last I have found the perfect shampoo for my hair type! So pleased with this product, already have it on my do get another bottle list!  5 stars.

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque

    http://www.cleopatraschoice.com/mcd-0003.html

Macadamia deep repair masque is a revitalizing hair reconstructor for dry, damaged hair. a combination of macadamia oil and argan oil along with tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe and algae extracts rejuvenate and rebuild the hair, leaving the hair deeply nourished for improved elasticity and shine with long-lasting conditioning benefits.


After shampooing and towel drying the hair, take a small amount of Macadamia Deep Repair Masque in the palm of your hand. Rub your palms together and apply evenly to damp hair. Comb through for even distribution. Leave in for 5 to 10 minutes to penetrate the cuticles of the hair. No heat is required for processing. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.


Having color treated hair, my hair tend to a bit dry  especially if using a flat Iron.  Using
Macadamia deep repair masque  restored shine to my hair  and makes it feel soft naturally, it not heavy like some  conditioners are.  A very nice product, I will continue to use.

Certified Organic Canadian Raw Honey

Certified Organic Canadian Raw Honey From Tropical Traditions

Tropical Traditions

Tropical Traditions Organic Raw Honey comes from the frontier areas of Canada, and is only harvested during a 6-week period in the summer. Tropical Traditions is the exclusive source of this premium organic honey in the U.S. Most commercial honeys available on the market today come from bee farms, where the bees are controlled within a certain area and get their pollen from usually only one kind of flower. Many of the plants that produce these flowers (clover, orange blossom, etc.) are grown with pesticides and fertilizers as well. In addition, almost all honeys on the market are pasteurized in high heat and filtered, removing many of the beneficial nutrients and enzymes.


In order for honey to be certified organic, the beehives must be placed in isolated areas miles from the dense population, industry, traffic congestion, and farm fields treated with chemicals and landfills. Second, a bee’s flying range is determined by their natural instinct which tells them to stay within their natural four mile range from the hive location. Finding area which can be certified organic is extremely difficult, which is why there are so few certified organic honeys on the market. Tropical Traditions sources its honey from hives in the wild frontier areas of Canada.

This honey is worth trying, it is thick and goes a long way and has the most wonderful intense  honey flavor you  could ever taste.  It makes such a difference in your recipes when using this product, I would highly recommend.

BONUS…

My followers will be able to acquire their own complimentary copy of our Virgin Coconut Oil book by taking part in our Referral Program: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/referral_program.htm, if you choose "referred by a friend" and enter code : 7156110

Link to our customer service page http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/customerservice.cfm so your followers can email us if they need some help placing their first web order to capture the free book. We have step-by-step instructions we can provide for your site, please just let us know if you’d like to receive a copy.
www.tropicaltraditions.com