September 2020 - Journey With Healthy Me

Try a Clay and Charcoal Mask

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September 29 is National Mud Pack Day. When I penciled this unique holiday into my posting schedule, I realized I’d never tried a mud pack. I’ve created simple DIY masks at home, using natural ingredients. However I decided to celebrate this day properly with a store bought mask.

At Ulta, I found a variety of facial masks ranging from press on sheets to fun and fruity goop in a tube to jars of clay. In honor of mud pack day, I chose L’OREAL’s Detox & Brighten Pure Clay Mask, with added charcoal.

And rather than just try a clay and charcoal mask, I made it a pampering self care experience.

Try a Clay and Charcoal Mask title meme

National Mud Pack Day

This day gives us all permission to play in the mud…mud packs that is. Mud packs are mixtures of therapeutic clays that when applied to the skin, increase circulation, ease muscle tension, release toxins and boost immunity. They work well on oily and combination skin types.

Although most commonly used on the face, mud packs benefit the skin all over the body. For a full body mud pack, that relieves pain and swelling due to arthritis and eases stress, check out salons that offer this service.

Try a Clay and Charcoal Mask tea — Try a clay and charcoal mask – tea time

L’OREAL Pure Clay Mask

The L’OREAL product I purchased contains three pure clays plus charcoal. This blend of moroccan lava, kaolin and montmorillonite clays and charcoal draws out impurities from the skin, evens out skin tone, increases luminosity and allows the skin to breathe.

The creamy formula glides on easily, does not dry out the skin and is suitable for all skin types. To use, apply an even layer to clean, dry skin, avoiding eyes and lips. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes then rinse off with warm water. For best results, use three times a week.

Immediate results include clean, smooth skin with a beautiful, healthy glow.

Over time skin breathes better, detoxifies and appears healthier.

Try a Clay and Charcoal Mask

Late in the afternoon, as the sun sank toward the western horizon, I set up my self care experience.

In my backyard garden meditation spot, I placed a tray with a cup of peppermint tea, a lit candle and the L’OREAL Clay and Charcoal Mask. Glennon Doyle’s book Untamed lay nearby. The water fountain gurgled just outside the meditation area while the drone of insects filled the garden. I set up my light stand with its remote clicker and the sturdy clip that holds my iPhone, for photos. That handy gadget is the best investment I made this year!

I felt ready to try the mask and relax in the garden while it dried.

Try a Clay and Charcoal Mask garden — As I try a clay and charcoal mask, I appreciate the beauty of the garden…

Try a Clay and Charcoal Mask fountain — …and the soothing sound of water.

Allowing the Mask to Dry

I applied an even coat of the clay mask to my face, avoiding the eyelids and under eye area and my lips. The texture is smooth, without any grit, and goes on easily. It has a light, pleasant fragrance. I made sure I completely covered my skin. The mask goes on dark gray and turns light gray as it dries.

After snapping a few photos, I settled back to enjoy the experience. Sipping my peppermint tea, I read in Untamed, a book that carries significance for me as I enter next year. My cat Shy Boy joined me in the meditation corner, curling up on a chair. It felt amazing to relax and unwind outdoors on this gorgeous fall day.

As the mask dried, my skin tightened beneath it. That tightening felt pleasant as I did feel tension, which often settles in the facial muscles, melt away.

Try a Clay and Charcoal Mask cat — Shy Boy keeps me company, while I try a clay and charcoal mask.

Try a Clay and Charcoal Mask LOREAL — L’OREAL Pure Clay Mask with Charcoal.

The Results

After 15 minutes, most of the mask appeared dry, turning a light gray color. I could easily see the pores on my skin. As the sun set, I decided to wash off the mask instead of waiting for it to dry completely.

I confess that I thought the mask might not come off as simply as it went on. Using an older wash cloth and warm water from the bathroom sink, I cautiously dabbed at the mask. No worries. The mask dissolved quickly. I found using my hands to rinse my face with the warm running water worked best.

In moments, mask gone, I patted my skin dry and looked at my face in the mirror. My skin looked radiant and dewy. And the texture amazed me. My skin felt deep cleaned, soft and so incredibly smooth. And the pores appeared diminished.

I captured the results with a click of my iPhone camera. Afterward I applied Smartr Skin Vitamin C Serum and their rich moisturizer. (Use my discount code CINDYM20OFF to save 20% off your order! And check out the rest of my skin care routine.)

Try a Clay and Charcoal Mask pores — Look how evident the pores are with the mask on.

Continued Use

I’m grateful for National Mud Pack Day. Thanks to this special day, I tried a clay mask for the first time and I love it. I’m adding the L’OREAL Pure Clay Mask with Charcoal to my weekly skin care routine. I look forward to seeing what results continued use bring.

Want to create your own self care experience? Check out my Amazon links below! And let me know…have you tried a clay and charcoal mask?

Try a Clay and Charcoal Mask soft skin — No make up, just silky smooth, radiant skin.

Try These Products to Create Your Own Self Care Experience

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9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas

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September brings us Better Breakfast Month, a time to intentionally enjoy that most crucial meal of the day. At least, we grew up hearing about the importance of breaking our long overnight fast. However, most people find it easier to head out for the day without fueling up.

In fact, only about 1/3 of people surveyed say they take the time to eat breakfast. I understand. I’ve been in that skipper category. Busy schedules, oversleeping or simply not intentionally preparing breakfast all contribute to skipping this meal.

Read on to discover why it really is vital to eat breakfast. And check out 9 healthy breakfast ideas.

9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas title meme

Why Breakfast Is Important

Overall, those who eat breakfast are healthier than those who skip it. They maintain a better weight and have a lower BMI (body mass index).

Starting the day with breakfast reduces hunger, boosts energy and encourages better food choices throughout the day. A healthy breakfast regulates blood sugar levels and curbs overeating later.

Plus including breakfast breaks the body out of the slower metabolic rate it slips into overnight during sleep. Awake, the body needs to get back up to speed and to do that, it requires fuel.

The brain’s supply of energy, in the form of glucose, depletes overnight too. To think clearly and increase concentration, a healthy breakfast is essential.

Ready to up your breakfast game? Try any of these 9 healthy breakfast ideas.

Smoothies & Smoothie Bowls

This is my breakfast of choice, 90% of the time. After drinking a glass of celery juice (read about the benefits of this juice HERE), I make a fruit smoothie for breakfast.

For me, this is the best possible way to refuel my body. Smoothies are easily digested, introducing fructose quickly into the bloodstream for the energy the body needs.

Begin with two bananas in a blender. Add fruit of choice. I primarily use frozen fruit to create a frosty, thicker smoothie. Fill the blender container about half way with filtered water or dairy free milk and blend. For extra health benefits, include spoonfuls of spirulina, Atlantic sea dulse, barley grass juice powder, chaga mushroom powder, plant based protein, flax seeds or chia seeds.

9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas smoothie — 9 healthy breakfast ideas – fruit smoothie

For fun, turn that drink into a smoothie breakfast bowl. Use less liquid to create a thicker smoothie. Pour the mixture into a bowl and then add toppings of choice. Some favorites for me: unsweetened shredded coconut, berries, nuts, chia seeds and sliced fruit.

9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas smoothie bowl — Turn that smoothie into a smoothie bowl.

Overnight Oats

This simple, nutritious breakfast begins the night before. Easy and versatile, you’ll love the convenience of delicious overnight oats.

Combine in a small mason jar:

1/3 cup gluten free oats
1/4 cup chopped nuts
1/3 cup dairy free milk, such as almond or coconut milk
1/3 cup dairy free plain yogurt, such as coconut milk yogurt
fresh fruit of choice…berries make an excellent addition
add 1 tbsp chia or flax seed, if desired
add 1/4 tsp cinnamon if desired

Cover jar and place in the refrigerator the night before. Open and eat right from the jar the next morning.

Search on Pinterest or Google under “overnight oats” to find a variety of tasty recipes.

9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas overnight oats — 9 healthy breakfast ideas – overnight oats

Chia Pudding

Considered a superfood, these little seeds deliver big health benefits. Chia seeds are an excellent source of protein, vitamins E and B complex, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron. They are higher in Omega-3 fatty acids than any other food and especially beneficial for chronic inflammation, heart disease, brain function, cancer and autoimmune diseases. Chia seeds also combat diabetes by helping to stabilize and control blood sugar levels.

Chia pudding is so simple to make. Combine 1 cup dairy free milk, such as almond milk, with 1/4 cup of chia seeds in a mason jar or container with a lid. Cover and chill overnight in the refrigerator. Add berries, nuts or sliced fruit and enjoy.

Like overnight oats, searching for chia pudding on Pinterest or Google yields tons of recipes to try.

9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas chia pudding — 9 healthy breakfast ideas – chia pudding

Gluten Free Pancakes

For an occasional Sunday brunch, I enjoy a plate of gluten free pancakes. I’ve tried multiple made-from-scratch recipes. Honestly, I’ve found that the easiest way to make a stack of hotcakes involves a mix.

I love Birch Benders Organic Gluten Free Pancake Mix. Simply add water and make pancakes…two or three or a dozen. Topped with fresh fruit such as strawberries, blueberries or sliced bananas, and a drizzle of organic maple syrup, breakfast feels like a real treat.

9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas gluten free pancakes — 9 healthy breakfast ideas – gluten free pancakes

Fruit Bowl

Another simple…and gorgeous…breakfast option is the fruit bowl. I use whatever fresh fruit I have on hand. A favorite for me combines fresh blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and pitted bing cherries. Any combination of fruit works. Try melons with blackberries, mix together bananas, mangoes and pineapple or pair grapes with papaya. Drizzle organic, locally produced honey over the fruit to sweeten if desired or enjoy the mix of natural flavors.

For convenience, cut up fruit the night before and chill in the fridge.

9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas fruit bowl — Try any combination of fruits for an easy and colorful breakfast bowl.

Avocado Toast

This popular meal makes a filling and satisfying breakfast.

I toast gluten free bread and top with sliced avocado. The fun doesn’t stop there. Spread on vegan mayo. Add sliced veggies such as radishes or tomatoes. Top with arugula, spinach or sesame seeds. I love a good sprinkle of coarsely ground black pepper on my avocado toast.

This breakfast makes a simple evening meal as well.

9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas avocado toast — 9 healthy breakfast ideas – avocado toast

Apple Porridge & Cooked Apples

Anthony William, author of the Medical Medium books, introduced me to raw apple porridge in Thyroid Healing. See the easy recipe HERE. Filled with dates, raisins and cinnamon this breakfast bowl recipe is delicious.

Inspired, I created a recipe of my own, using my instant pot.

Add 1/4 cup of water to the bottom of the instant pot. On the steaming tray, add two chopped apples, skin on, and a handful of raisins. Sprinkle with cinnamon, lock on lid and steam for one minute. Spoon into bowls and add walnuts or unsweetened shredded coconut. This wonderfully fragrant meal is perfect for chilly winter mornings.

9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas apples — Cooked apples make a wonderfully healthy breakfast.

Vegan Blueberry Muffins

I typically considered vegan muffins and banana bread a treat, best enjoyed with a cup of afternoon tea. And I prefer to stick to nutrient rich foods to break my fast most of the time. However, for those who love breads for breakfast, vegan muffins and quick breads such as banana, pumpkin and date offer ideal healthy alternatives.

Try these gluten and oil free blueberry mini muffins. They also make great afternoon snacks that complement a cup of hot herbal tea.

9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas muffins — Vegan muffins make a great healthy alternative to traditional muffins.

Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread

This beautiful loaf is free from gluten, refined sugar, eggs and diary products.

I learned in Anthony’s Liver Rescue book that the fructose in bananas is the liver’s favorite source of food. It provides quick fuel to the liver and wakes up sleepy cells. Bananas soothe the lining of the intestines and also calm the nerves attached to the intestinal tract. This fruit is one of the most antibacterial, anti-yeast, antifungal foods available. It’s a great fruit to combine with other nutrient-rich foods…such as blueberries!

Find the recipe for this amazing bread HERE.

9 Healthy Breakfast Ideas banana blueberry bread — 9 healthy breakfast ideas – banana blueberry bread

Don’t Skip Breakfast

I hope these simple ideas for healthy breakfasts encourage you to NOT skip out on the most important meal of the day. Fuel your body, wake it up and enjoy knowing that you’ve given yourself the best possible start to the day.

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I am not a medical practitioner. I study health and wellness related topics and share experiences from my own personal healing journey.

Easy Guacamole

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Today is National Guacamole Day! This delicious green dip, featuring avocados, comes together easily and quickly with a few ingredients. Beyond using as a dip for chips, guacamole pairs well with cut up or cooked veggies and makes an excellent topping on salads.

Check out this simple, versatile recipe!

Easy Guacamole title meme

Start With Fresh Avocados

Amazing guacamole starts with fresh avocados. This fruit, often referred to as the mother fruit, possesses a textured inedible skin and a smooth and creamy yellow-green flesh.

Avocados, with their healthy fats, offer wonderful health benefits. They are easy to digest, making them helpful for soothing and healing the digestive tract. Plus their anti-inflammatory properties behave like aspirin, without thinning out the blood. This reduces narrowing and swelling in the linings of the stomach and intestines.

Because of their healthy omega-6 fatty acids, avocados help to heal the brain and central nervous system, alleviating dementia and Alzheimer’s. They also reduce the effects of aging on the skin.

Avocados are high in fiber, nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and contain more potassium than bananas. Combined with other plants, this amazing fruit increases the nutrient value and absorption of those foods.

Easy Guacamole

For this easy guacamole recipe you need:

2 ripe avocados, cut in two, seed and skin removed
1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered or 1/2 cup diced tomato
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cumin

Mash avocados with a fork or potato masher. Add remaining ingredients, stir gently to combine and serve with gluten free crackers, non GMO corn chips or veggies. Double recipe if needed, for a larger gathering.

Add sliced jalapeno peppers, if desired, or 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper if you enjoy a spicier dip. Or omit the cilantro. To some, cilantro tastes bitter or soapy. If you like it, add it in for the powerful health benefits.

Include a dollop of guacamole in a cooked veggie bowl or on top of a salad. Or for a fun treat, spread guacamole on gluten free toasted bread for a twist on avocado toast.

Store left over guacamole in the refrigerator, with a sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap pressed down snugly against the dip. Exposure to air turns guacamole brown.

Easy Guacamole zuchinni — Easy guacamole served with oven fried zucchini.

Extremely Easy Guacamole

And, here is my super easy guacamole recipe. Sometimes, I don’t have a red onion on hand. Or I don’t have time to chop everything up.

For the simplest guacamole ever, mash up one avocado, add a tablespoon of fresh or store bought salsa and stir to combine. That’s it. Add more or less salsa, as desired. Sometimes I add a dash of garlic powder as well.

This is a quick, healthy snack or small meal, served with gluten free crackers or non GMO corn tortilla chips or an assortment of cut up veggies.

Do you have a favorite guacamole recipe? Tell me about it in the comments!

National Days, Weeks and Months

I enjoy celebrating unique holidays through out the year. Every day offers multiple holidays or national days to participate in. Plus, there are national weeks and months. Many of these unusual or playful holidays provide fun opportunities to try new things.

Would you like to celebrate these quirky holidays too?

Check out National Day Calendar for lists of holidays associated with each month, week and day.

Amazon Finds to Help Make Easy Guacamole:

Tips for a Healthy Fall

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As summer transitions into fall, many celebrate the change. Cooler temperatures, cozy hoodies, sturdy boots, colorful leaves, pumpkin spice and crackling fires herald the arrival of the holiday season.

I love fall. However, in the past, fall didn’t always love me. Along with all the joys of the season came seasonal allergies, fatigue, colds, viruses and flu bugs.

Most of us feel powerless against seasonal changes and the ailments that often accompany them. However, I’ve discovered my health is not captive to the whims of nature. Your health isn’t either.

Check out these tips for a healthy fall…and a more enjoyable season.

Tips for a Healthy Fall title meme

Tips for a Healthy Fall

These ten tips make life a bit easier during fall. They don’t rely on equipment or unusual foods. Nor do they require a lot of time.

Vitamin D Every Day

I can’t stress enough the importance of this vitamin. Ten minutes of sunlight or two 1000 mg capsules a day protects the body against a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Vitamin D promotes healthy bones and teeth, regulates insulin levels, protects against cancer, supports lung, heart, brain and nervous system health, improves mood AND boosts the immune system.

Boost Your Immune System

If there’s one health tip I’ve repeated over and over this year, during the pandemic, it’s this one: build up your immune system. It is the first line of defense against invading viruses, bacteria and allergens. A weak immune system in a body already struggling against ailments can’t handle one more invader.

Strengthen your immune system by drinking lots of water, getting enough vitamin D, washing hands frequently and avoiding touching the face and eyes. Eat highly nutritious foods.

And along with vitamin D, add vitamin C, zinc, L-lysine, olive leaf and echinacea to your diet. Probiotics promote healthy gut bacteria, which is vital to a strong immune system.

Tips for a Healthy Fall boost immunity — Tips for a healthy fall – drink plenty of water.

Moisturize Skin

Cooler temperatures take a toll on the skin, drying it out and causing flakiness, cracking or itchiness.

Drink water and herbal teas, add high water content foods such as cucumber and celery to your diet along with healing herbs like calendula, lavender and rose. Check out a full list of helpful foods and herbs for the skin HERE.

Go to Bed Earlier

During the fall months, Daylight Savings Time ends, meaning we turn our clocks back one hour. It gets dark earlier in the day and the nights seem long. The change can disrupt our sleep schedules creating fatigue and moodiness.

Take advantage of the longer nights. Get to bed earlier. Establish a night time routine that prepares the body for sleep.

Turn off electronics at least an hour before bed. Take a warm shower or bath. Listen to calming music. Sleep in a dark, cool room. Fall asleep counting the blessings from the day.

Tips for a Healthy Fall turn back the clock — Tips for a healthy fall – go to bed earlier.

Prepare for Seasonal Allergies

As one who suffered for many years with fall allergies, I can attest to the power of increasing health to ward them off. One in five people suffer from seasonal allergies. In the fall, ragweed is the primary culprit.

Allergy symptoms occur when the body responds to allergens by producing a chemical called histamine, which works to counteract the allergen. The immune system causes the allergic reactions by producing immunoglobulin antibodies that result in widespread symptoms.

Lessening and ultimately avoiding fall allergies is a two step process: eliminate foods that weaken the immune system and then support the immune system so it can work properly, handling allergens without creating symptoms in the body.

Avoid eggs, gluten, canola oil, GMO soy and corn, dairy products and MSG. These foods create inflammation in the body and weaken the immune system.

Include wild blueberries, lemons, limes, celery, garlic, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, cruciferous veggies such as cauliflower and broccoli, onions, oranges, cranberries and raw, local honey (from conscientious bee keepers).

And add these supplemental foods: turmeric, vitamin C, nettle and elderberry syrup.

Enjoy Seasonal Foods

Take advantage of the foods of the season. Enjoy more apples, pears, beets, broccoli, cabbage, squash, root veggies, dark leafy greens, cranberries, persimmons and that seasonal favorite, pumpkin.

These plentiful foods perfectly protect the body against diabetes, improve heart health and lower blood pressure levels. Pumpkins offer vitamins C and A and their seeds help lower cholesterol.

Tips for a Healthy Fall pumpkins — Tips for a healthy fall – seasonal foods offer benefits.

Talk to Your Doctor about a Flu Shot

A flu vaccination can keep you healthier by preventing illness due to flu. The shot reduces the risk of flu-related hospitalization for children, working adults and older adults. It’s especially important for those with chronic health conditions.

And while a flu shot will not prevent COVID19, getting one may prevent overwhelming healthcare systems that are already dealing with the virus. Additionally, a flu vaccine saves healthcare resources for the care of people with COVID.

Beat Stress During the Holiday Season

For many people, the holidays bring additional stress. And I think we can agree that 2020 brought enough of that already.

Establish stress reducing practices NOW, before the holiday season starts.

Begin the day with a morning meditation and a short time of journaling or free writing. During the day practice deep breathing exercises, yoga, stretches or gentle aerobics. End the day with thankfulness, writing, meditation or deep breathing, letting go of the stresses of the day and finding things to express gratitude for.

Tips for a Healthy Fall stress — Tips for a healthy fall – begin practicing stress relief now.

Get Outdoors

Cooler temperatures after a hot summer invite outdoor activities. And fall offers many possibilities.

Rake leaves, tidy up the garden or go for long walks in nature. Jog, ride a bicycle or engage in sports. Getting outside for fresh air and exercise boosts mood and creativity. Plus it reduces inflammation, relieves stress and anxiety and strengthens immunity.

Be Kind to Yourself

During this transition into fall, practice self kindness and self love.

Fall may bring colds, viruses and allergies. Shorter days can usher in depression. During the holidays, it’s easy to gain weight and feel increased stress and loneliness.

Be exceedingly kind to yourself during these months. Set aside at least one afternoon or evening a week to practice self care such as reading, a long soak in the tub, walks in nature, cups of hot herbal tea or writing. Watch a movie. Call a friend. Create. Play.

Taking care of the body and improving health is incomplete without caring for all aspects of ourselves, including mental and emotional health. As the saying goes, the body eavesdrops on the mind. A mind churning with negative thoughts, regrets, anxiety or despair greatly impacts the body’s well being.

Talk to yourself, care for yourself, the way you would someone you deeply love.

How Will You Care for Yourself this Fall?

Which tips can you implement, to improve your health and wellness this fall? Start with one or two suggestions, feel the difference they make, then adopt another…and another.

This is the season of thankfulness. And in spite of the many challenges this year offered, we can find much to express gratitude for. May your improving health be something to rejoice over.

Tips for a Healthy Fall self care — Tips for a Healthy Fall – be kind to yourself.

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I am not a medical practitioner. I study health and wellness related topics and share experiences from my own personal healing journey.