Tag: Organic

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Favorite Healthy Date Spots in Manhattan

I get asked all of the time for places I recommend for healthy eating & for those with dietary restrictions. Below you can find some of my go-to date night spots (can be for with friend, family member or significant other). FAVORITES

@candle79 & @candlecafe – Vegan. Candle 79 is a little fancier, better for a weekend date whereas Candle Cafe is more casual but still a nice ambiance for weeknights.

@plantfoodandwine – Vegetarian/Vegan

@peacefoodnyc – Vegan . Upper west seems a bit more casual vibe than the EV location.

@divyaskitchennyc – Vegetarian Ayurvedic (first one in NYC). They have a great selection of herbal teas!

@thebutchersdaughter_official- Plant Based & GF. Great for brunch.

@risotteriamelottinyc – Gluten Free. Mainly risotto dishes, so is great for those of you that are gluten free. It’s the cutest spot, making you feel as if you are in Italy.

@abcvnyc – Flatiron, Vegetarian/Vegan.

@caravanofdreams405 – East Village, Vegan. A bit more low key than the above, but still a good date night spot. They also have live Jazz!

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MORE CASUAL – 👇🏼. Still so delicious for lunch or a weeknight quick dinner.

@le_botaniste – Vegetarian

@hukitchen – Paleo

@eatbychloe – Vegan & Gluten Free

@beyondsushinyc -Vegan

@bareburger – Sustainable, 50% Vegan with GF Options. On their menu, Bareburger details exactly where their food comes from, which farms etc. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ If you are going with someone who is new to the “healthy”, food space, my go-to spots to ease someone into it out of this list are @risotteriamelottinyc , @eatbychloe & @bareburger

You can check out my “NYC Eats” story highlight which includes videos of the food/ambiance for some of these locations.

⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ What are some of your favorites?!

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Organic Tinted Moisturizer

My new skincare addiction is Organic Tinted Moisturizer by Sanre Organic Skinfood.⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Why I love it:

🔹 Its all natural and organic (for real) ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀

🔹It makes my skin glow in the off summer months

🔹It doesn’t clog my pores or make me break out (my skin is sensitive to breakouts) ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀

🔹I can continue to use it into the spring/summer, get a nice glow without overexposing myself to the sun ⠀

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀

I got this product a few weeks ago after trying a sample tinted moisturizer from a non-natural company and loving the way it made my skin look. The problem was, after using it for a week long, my pores started to clog with the toxic ingredients in the product. This was another reason (in addition to always looking for more natural products) to look for something with more pure ingredients. ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀

I’ve been putting the tinted moisturizer from Sanre Organic on my face as a lotion during the daytime to test it out everyday over the past week and a half. After, I’ve been putting on the hibiscus tea on my checks (the trick I showed in my video 2 posts ago). When doing this, I’ve had people comment on my “tan, glow, Caribbean tan”! I even went out to dinner last night and used the same process INSTEAD of using foundation/bronzer/blush on my face and did my (eyes/lips) as per usual & it looked great. ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀

The Ingredients are ALL ORGANIC (except for the iron oxide & titanium dioxide)

INGREDIENTS: Safflower Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Purified Water, Beeswax, Aloe Vera Gel, Iron Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Citrus Extract, Essential Oils of Lavender, Rosemary, Jasmine Absolute, Sweet Orange, Thyme, Patchouli, Hyssop

I also have been using their products for a few years now and really love them. Their ingredients are the real deal- all natural and organic and not just marketed that way. I feel so comfortable knowing I can trust this brand when I use it.

Two of my other favorites by them are:

C-LOVE . I love this for my neck, chest and eyes or for face if I’m super dry. It smells AMAZING

Footsie Fiesta. I’ve never been one to use foot lotion, but I was very impressed with this. The texture and smell is perfect for the feet, locking in moisture and helps to relax.

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Sunbathing & Natural Sunscreen

☀️When I was younger, I would bake out in the sun for HOURS at a time seeking a dark tan & didn’t use sunscreen. After learning about how many chemicals are in synthetic sunblock, I am not sure if loading up on the sunscreen would have caused more harm than good? ⠀⠀⠀⠀

Now, I have a whole different approach around sunbathing. I allow myself to get sun when I am walking around/in the ocean for about an hour or less & put a natural sunscreen on, or nothing on if I have a base tan. When I am not being “active”, I seek shade and also love using a hat & coverup to cover my chest/shoulders. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀

The sun IS good for us in healthy doses. I am Vitamin D deficient in winter months & it really affects my mood a TON. After being in the ocean/sun, my friends commented on my increased energy levels & overall mood change. There are also many studies that show that Vitamin D is super important for bone health. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀

I really loved @moonandbloom post from the other week. She is a Registered Herbalist. I share the same thoughts as her relating to ☀️. She recommends: “Exposing one’s eyes to the sun (safely in moderation) activates the pineal gland quite markedly, as we know from ancient practice of sun gazing. It’s so good for skin disorders and healing, and cleans & oxygenates the blood.

While the whole synthetic sunblock industry is WAY toxic to humans, animals, and the Earth, there are numerous plant oils with natural SPF. All skin types have their own unique thresholds for sun that can vary with age and genetics. When the sun is really strong, I like a blend of St. Johnswort oil (approx SPF 8), Sea Buckthorn oil (approx spf 30) & coconut oil (approx spf 4-6). Watch the amounts- the Sea Buckthorn & Johnswort will dye your skin orange.” ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀

Face: I used a sunscreen by Naturopathica for my face for the first time & loved it! On the Think Dirty app it is rated as a 1 out of 10 toxicity level.

Body: I used a natural sunscreen I bought in Costa Rica and really like! See below for ingredients.

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CBD Pills

Finally tried CBD pills. What is CBD? Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the two main ingredients in the marijuana plant. Both CBD and THC belong to a unique class of compounds known as cannabinoids.

THC is best known for being the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. CBD, however, is non-psychoactive, meaning CBD can’t get you high. While disappointing to recreational users, this unique feature of CBD is what makes it so appealing as a medicine.

 

Naturally containing less than .3% THC, the hemp plant contains a multitude of nutrient rich terpenes, phytonutrients and cannabinoids.

Research seems to indicate that introducing hemp-derived cannabinoids such as CBD might help one’s ECS function more properly and efficiently and help regulate vital biological functions such as sleep, appetitie, pain, modulation, mood enhancement, sexual activity & more.

After taking a pill, I my body felt more relaxed and zen. For me, it seems like a good pill to take before bed.

Ananda Hemp works directly with the DEA and Kentucky Department of Agriculture in strict accordance with section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill. This allows them to sell and transport their products in all 50 states, legally. They are vertically integrated hemp producers in the USA and rigorously test and certify all products from seed to sale.

I also have used CBD oil topically (as seen in photo on the right). My friend made my a topical oil lotion mixed with coconut oil and some other ingredients beneficial to the skin. I am not sure if I noticed a difference, but something like this might need to be applied many times a day or may need to be of higher potency. For example, Voltaren gel, a topical prescription pain cream is recommended to be applied 6x a day.

I know some people personally who use this to treat chronic pain. Does anyone else take CBD pills or use a topical oil? How do you like them?

Here is the link to Ananda Hemp for CBD pills.

References:

1. Mead, Alice. “The Legal Status of Cannabis (marijuana) and Cannabidiol (CBD) under U.S. Law.” Epilepsy & Behavior 70 (2017): 288-91. Web.

2. Ananda Hemp

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Salt Scrub

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Ingredients📝

  • Sea Salt
  • Epsom Salt (more intense exfoliant than sea salt)
  • Coconut Oil
  • Almond Oil
  • Avocado Oil
  • Vitamin E
  • Lavender Essential oil

Benefits of using salt on your skin:

  • Kills bacteria on the skin
  • Exfoliates the skin
  • Promotes Circulation
  • Magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium are critical for proper cell-to-cell communication, so replenishing the skin with minerals can help restart the signaling processes that slow down with age.

For more DIY cosmetics, check out my instagram @nychamptonshealth

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Ionic Foot Bath

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It is difficult to find reliable sources on the Ionic Foot Bath. I usually like to source all of my blogs from reliable sources. For this particular article, I will state some information on what an Ionic Foot Bath is and my own experience with them.

What is an Ionic foot baths?

In simple terms: Removes toxins by generating positive and negative ions which are able to attach themselves to impurities that are oppositely charged in your feet.

In more detailed terms: The bath operates through a process called electrolysis. In this process, an electrical current is generated within the foot bath water which causes the molecules of water to divide producing negative ions. Once an abundance of these negative ions are present in the foot bath water, the body then absorbs the ions through osmosis, which is the movement of particles through a membrane from a higher concentration to a lower concentration. In this case, the higher concentration refers to the negative ions produced by the ion field that is set up by placing electrodes into the water. As the vast majority of foreign contaminate matter found on the feet and within the body is positively charged, including such matter as harmful chemicals, heavy metals, parasites and other such materials, the negative ions are attracted to the positively charged foreign contaminates and bind with those foreign contaminates. The body then can readily eliminate the bound foreign contaminates through its own natural processes.

Toxins Removed:

  • Heavy Metal Toxicity
  • Lactic Acids
  • Pesticides/Fungicides
  • Cholesterol Deposits
  • Drugs/Medication Debris
  • Lymphatic Congestion
  • Cellular Debris
  • Exhaust Fumes
  • Parasites
  • Second Hand Smoke

Benefits:

  • Liver Detoxification
  • Increases Energy
  • Reduces Stress
  • Pain Relief
  • Improves Memory & Sleep
  • Sexual Health
  • Stronger Immune System
  • Oxygenates Your Cells
  • Better Well Being & Attitude
  • Calms & Relaxes

My Experience

Based on how your foot bath looks at the end of the session, tells you what toxins were pulled from your body through the pores of your feet. Common colors are orange for joint toxins, blue for hormonal toxins or black for liver toxins. Usually within your first few foot baths, the color will get darker, which indicates more toxins being released. As you continue to get the foot baths on a regular basis, the water should get lighter. I have had many foot baths. I have noticed this pattern occur in my foot baths. There was a time a few months ago my water was almost completely black. I noticed that my bath always has a heavy dose of colors specific to my “problem areas” of my body. I have had people sitting next to me with completely blue baths who tell me they have hormone problems and that their bath is always that color. Also based on my observation, usually older or those with serious illness have very dark baths, indicating high toxicity levels. Based on these observations it seems like there is some validity to the Ionic Foot Bath detox.

Where to get an Ionic Foot Bath

 

For more check out my instagram @nychamptonshealth

References

“Colon Hydrotherapy | Detox Clay | Garden City | Smithtown.” Cleansing Concepts. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2017.

 

 

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Golden Milk & the power of Turmeric

Golden Milk is an ancient southeast Asian health elixir.⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀                                             ⠀

image1-2📝Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of hot almond, coconut or hemp milk
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp ginger powder
  • Pinch of cinnamon
  • Pinch of Nutmeg
  • Pinch of Cardamom
  • Pinch of Black Pepper (to activate the anti-inflammatory agents in turmeric)
  • 1/2 tsp of coconut oil to guarantee maximum absorption.
  • Optional: pinch of cacao to add more of a hot chocolate taste

 

 

More info on Turmeric: In New York, Turmeric has been a recent growing trend. I have seen it being added to juices and available in shot forms at places like Juice Generation. Most people must not be aware that it must be mixed with Black Pepper, in order to activate its anti-inflammatory agent Curcumin. You can also buy Curcumin vitimins, but having anything in its freshest form will be most effective.

Scientists have discovered that the root cause of most chronic illnesses is due to oxidative damage and/or inflammation. Curcumin’s powerful anti-inflammatory properties explain why it can help prevent and treat many different health conditions. Inflammation is a common factor for many diseases including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, Alziemer’s, obesity and more. The body’s inflammatory response is a primary component of most chronic diseases.

Other ways I get my  Curcumin (from Turmeric) dosage:

  1. I take Terry Naturally- Extra Strength vitamins daily.
  2. I put a mix of Turmeric, Black Pepper, Cumin and Cayenne Pepper spices on foods I eat (mostly chicken)
  3.  I cut the turmeric root and put it in hot water and add black pepper amongst other ingredients as a detox tea. Other ingredients can include ginger (which is also anti-inflammatory), coconut oil, lemon, apple cider vinegar, oregano, garlic.

If you want to learn more about Turmeric, I recommend this detailed article by Cognitune.

References

Lemerond, Terry. “Inflammation the Wonder Spice Solution Research Confirms Healing Power of Curcumin.” 15 Feb. 2008: 1-30. Print. The Nutrition Healthy Living Guide

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Honey Dijon Brussel Sprouts

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Directions:

  • Steam or Boil the Brussel Sprouts until cooked
  • Mix dressing in a pan & add brussel sprouts.
  • Mix brussel sprouts & dressing in pan for a few minutes

Honey Dijon Dressing Ingredients:

  • Mustard- 2 tbsp
  • Honey- 1 tbsp
  • Olive Oil-1 tbsp
  • White Vinegar 1.5 tbsp
  • Black Pepper
  • Salt (Sea salt or Himalayan)

Note: make sure vinegar is gluten free if this is of concern

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Homemade Organic Dry Shampoo

FullSizeRender (1).jpgAbove is a photo of me using my dry shampoo a few days after getting my hair blown out. 

Ingredients:

  • Arrowroot Powder
  • Cacao Powder
  • Lemon essential oil – to get golden highlights
  • Rosemary essential oil- to promote hair growth
  • Eucalyptus- for a dry scalp

Directions:

  • Use more arrowroot powder for lighter hair and cacao powder for darker hair
  • Massage the arrowroot into your scalp & in first couple of inches of hair if desired.
  • Take note: I personally used arrowroot powder because I wanted to make my hair look lighter.
    • If you decide to mix in cacao, be aware some of this residue could come off onto your pillow at night. I am not sure if it would stain or if any type of bug would be attracted to if (in NYC). I haven’t experimented with this or seen this being an issue in my research but it could be something to keep in mind.

Many of my friends use dry shampoo or baby powder as a dry shampoo on days they want to skip washing their hair or to extend a blowout for a few days.  There have been many links to the talcum in baby powder and cancer. When hearing this, I decided to come up with my own powder very similar to baby powder but one that is beneficial for your skin, hair and body instead of being detrimental toward your health.

In the most recent lawsuit against Johnson and Johnson (February 2016), $72 million dollars was awarded to to a women’s family for using their baby powder which contributed to her ovarian cancer death after 35 years of use. See more in an article here.

For more, check out my instagram at @nychamptonshealth