#BeReady: My New E-Book for College Students with Food Allergies

Are you ready?  Well, #BeReady.  That's the name of my new e-book/handbook for college students with food allergies.  I am happy to announce that this is the culminating project of my Master’s Degree Thesis (I am so excited that I wanted to write that with capital letters!).  In my study, I looked at the information needs and information preferences of college students with food allergies.  Here is a short overview of the findings.  Students wanted:

 

·       more information on how to prepare food for themselves

·       nutrition

·       recipes

·       knowing where to shop

·       how to inform the college and their friends about their food allergies

·       navigating social scenarios

·       understanding their available dining options on-campus and off-campus

 
The majority of students prefer to receive food allergy information from websites and brochures.  They would love to use apps if there were more developed for their needs. Hint Hint for you app developers out there!  Participatory design is the thing right now, have the students help you design the app!

If you would like more information about my study, please email me (shandaaguirre@yahoo.com) and I can provide detailed stats, academic style!

I decided to give the students what they wanted.  I wrote a handbook with basic nutrition advice, recipes that can be made in the dorm, shopping tips, traveling tips, and resources on where to find more information.  I am also going to be working with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) to help them develop more education material for college students with food allergies.  Check out their website, they are doing great things!

Without further delay, here it is:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/232363472/BeReady-Handbook-for-College-Students-with-Food-Allergies


I hope this handbook helps!  Feedback is welcome!  Enjoy the holidays everyone!

Good Wishes,
Shanda

Image: courtesy of google images.

Whoa Baby! St. John's Wort Makes Birth Control Ineffective!

St. John's Wort is used for depression, lack of appetite, tiredness, and anxiety.  As an herbal remedy, most people think its completely safe for anyone to take.  NOT TRUE!

Herbal remedies need to be treated just like pharmaceuticals.  They will interact with each other and sometimes cause adverse side effects.  One of the biggest side effects of St. Johns Wort is that it increases the rate that estrogen is broken down in the body.  What does this mean?  It means that it cancels out birth control.  Yep, just like antibiotics, St. John's Wort can make oral contraception ineffective.  So, if you aren't looking to have a wee one, then stay away from St. John's Wort or use back up protection.  Talk to your health care provider about other options such as Sam-E, Ashwaganda, Schisandra Fruit, and many more natural options for depression, anxiety, and sleep issues. 

I write this as a reminder to always check the interactions of drugs and herbal remedies.  Herbal remedies are readily available to the public, and can be dangerous if not used correctly.  Check with your practitioner, holistic practitioner, or other health adviser before taking herbal remedies.  Also, you can check out this website which gives you information about drug/herbal interactions:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html

Natural is always better, but its only better if you are safe and informed about what you are putting into your body! 

Healthy Snack Ideas To Knock Out Your Sweet Tooth Cravings

Sometimes don't you wish that a Diet was a person so you could just knock it out!   Instead, how about using those boxing gloves to knock out a punching bag at the gym and use these ideas to knock out your SWEET TOOTH CRAVINGS....

Healthy Snack Food Ideas:

1.       Amaranth and Honey.  Amaranth is a grain that provides a complete protein, plus it’s full of tons of other nutrients.  All you need to do is get a frying pan with a lid, heat the pan on the stove on high,  put about 1 to 2 tablespoons of amaranth is the pan at one time , cover and move the pan around like you are popping Jiffy Pop over a fire.  The amaranth will pop quickly.  It will also burn quickly so it may take a few tries to figure it out.  Only use 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time until you have as much amaranth popped as you want.  Then just add honey.  It’s a very yummy, filling, and healthy treat.  But it does take practice!   It comes in small packages and seems expensive, but goes a long way so don’t be freaked out by the more expensive price. Check out my blog on Amaranth- The Super Grain: http://shesnotnuts.blogspot.com/2011/11/amaranth-history-and-nutritional-value.html

2.      Make your own trail-mix-   You can use Almonds (if you’re not allergic), pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins, dried fruit ( without sugar), and dark chocolate baking chips.  Mix those all together.  This is also a very filling snack and the chocolate satisfies the sweet craving.  Make sure it’s dark chocolate and not milk chocolate.  Dark chocolate that is at least 75% Cocoa is full of antioxidants so it’s better for you.

3.      Good Old Popcorn- topping ideas instead of butter are:  garlic and hot sauce, lemon-pepper and olive oil, nutritional yeast (which has a cheesy flavor), vinegar, onion powder, or just experiment with a small amount of cooking oil and the seasonings in your cabinet. 

4.      Make your own granola bars- Search for healthy and easy granola recipes..  I sometimes melt dark chocolate (85% Cocoa) and drizzle it over the top.  Then you can cut them up and bring them to munch on anytime.  Here is a link to some good ones: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/granola-bars-recipe/index.html

5.      Fruit- Sweeter fruit will cure that craving and give you good nutrients.   Double whammy!

Always remember...

.As Dr. Rob Gilbert said,"First we form habits, then they form us. Conquer your bad habits, or they'll eventually conquer you." 

 So form some good eating habits and conquer good health for life!

Supplemental Vitamin E is derived from SOY!

WHAT?  How in the world did this tid-bit of information manage to get past me until now?  As the mother of a food allergy child, I immediately wondered if people with food allergies will react to supplemental Vitamin E derived from soy.  Here is a forum on the topic:

http://www.allergicliving.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=622

This is just a reminder to all of us that deal with food allergies that allergens lark in secret places.  With all the fancy names that scientists are coming up with to disguise the ingredients, we have to be on our A game so we don't have accidental exposures. 

Here is a great link to a list of ingredient names to be aware of for specific food allergies:

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcetopic.php?topic=food-allergens

And here is a review on how to read a food label.  This is a good review for everyone!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nutrition-facts/NU00293

And here is a good guide for reading labels for people with food allergies:

http://foodallergies.about.com/od/signsandsymptoms/ht/labelreading101.htm


I use the motto "If you don't know whats in the food, then don't eat it."

Finger Limes- Check these out!

I love when I learn about a new food I have never seen before.  I got introduced to this citrus fruit last week.  My friend handed me one and said there are “little balls of goodness” inside.  Like a kid in a candy store, I cut into the finger lime and this is what I discovered:

“Ewww. Fish eggs”, I said.  Yes, they do look like caviar, but they don’t taste like caviar.  Those little balls of goodness are actually called vesicles.  They have a slight “pop” when you bite into them, then a rush of tart, sour, and sweet.  The first bite I puckered like when I eat sweet and sour candy, but I couldn’t stop eating them because of the texture.  They are so fun to eat.  To eat them, cut length-wise like I did or even just cut one in half and squeeze all the little vesicles straight into your mouth.  Plus, since they are a citrus fruit, they have all the health benefits as other citrus fruits. 

Finger limes originated in the Australian bush, but are making their way slowly across the world.  They come in a variety of colors including yellow, orange, purple, red, brown, and black or a combination of colors as the ones I ate.  

Small finger lime farms are popping up around the United States.  The only commercial sized farm I could find that is growing them is called Shanley Farms in California.  Here is there website so you can learn more about finger limes and how you can get the opportunity to try them:

http://www.shanleyfarms.com/Page_2_QD6G.html

Olive Oil- Buyer Beware!

Olive oil is a big business right now.  With all the health benefits being reported in the media and the hottest chef’s using it on cooking shows; Americans have jumped on the olive oil band wagon without even blinking an eye.  The many uses and mild taste make it a great cooking oil.

But……Yes, there is always a “but” these days.  I am sad to say that olive oil is now on the buyer beware list.  Please read these 2 recent articles about imitation olive oil and mafia-type schemes going on in the olive oil billion dollar industry and how to avoid buying “bad” olive oil.

Article #1:  http://news.yahoo.com/italian-olive-oil-mostly-foreign-imports-report-085510704.html

Article #2:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-hottest-new-grocery-scam-could-be-lurking-in-your-pantry-right-now.html

This is Scary! Food Industry Secrets Exposed

Please read this article or even a portion of it to get what its about: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/orange-juice-moms-secret-ingredient-worries/story?id=15154617

When I saw the article about Orange Juice having "secret ingredients", I wasn't surprised one bit.  I have learned so much about the food industry and the implications of mass production of food that when I read something like this, my cynical nature says to myself, "Yep, figures they are doing something sneaky".  I am sure that most of you saw the recent articles about apple juice containing high levels of arsenic.  Now the most common brands of orange juice contain a secret flavoring that doesn't have to be put on the ingredient label.  I would love to think that these are isolated incidents and are the only ones of their kind.  I would love to think that the processed food is actually "safe" but its not.  Most of the stories about chemicals and toxins in the food processing system never make it to main stream media.  Those stories are bad for business. The industry affected usually pays off the media so the news ( or rather the truth) doesn't hit consumers. How many people want to eat a cantaloupe after people were dying of listeria?  Here is an article written years ago ( so this is a long standing problem) about a few of the food industries secrets:

   http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/diet/articles/2008/10/17/10-things-the-food-industry-doesnt-want-you-to-know?PageNr=1

And now, after reading this article about orange juice, do you want to go out and get a glass of Minute Made orange juice? I am sure Minute Made's PR team is working on damage control as we speak. 

 Instead of having a glass of orange juice, eat an orange or fresh squeeze the juice yourself.  It even tastes better that way.  Try an apple instead of apple juice. 

A great book about the food industry and food in general is :

  "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan

http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Food-Eaters-Manifesto/dp/0143114964/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324318583&sr=8-1








Please be an aware consumer and know what food you are putting into you and your families bodies.  Your health will be the reward.  And maybe together we can stop the food industry from being sneaky and making us sick. 

Chia Seeds Are Not Just For Chia Pets- YOU CAN EAT THEM TOO!

 I first learned that Chia Seeds could be used for more than growing a Chia Pet when I read the book “Born To Run” by Christopher McDougall.  (side note*  that is a great book I highly recommend reading).  Back to Chia Seeds-  After I read the book and learned about Chia Seeds through internet searches, I followed suit of the many people who wanted to add Chia Seeds to their diet and ran to the store to buy some Chia Seeds.  Well, I didn’t literally run but I drove and purchased the Chia Seeds so I would have the energy and added nutrition to run.

 What is unique about Chia Seeds is that they provide a complete protein whereas most plants don’t.  Chia seeds contain all 9 essential amino acids.  They also contain fiber and Omega-3 fatty acids among other vitamins and minerals.  Here is some nutritional info and uses for the Chia Seeds:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/318361-chia-seeds-protein-value-and-nutritional-value/

 Here is a great blog that gives great recipes and ideas for using Chia Seeds.  Pick up the book “Born To Run” and you will be inspired, just like I was, to add them into your diet:

http://www.nomeatathlete.com/tarahumara-pinole-chia-recipes/

Coconuts- The Truth You Should Know About Coconuts

First, please view the following video before you read this blog post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0AOGeqOnFY

Very educational, wasn’t it?  Well most of it was educational except the “if you eat too many coconuts, you will be fat.”  That is so WRONG!  The truth is the complete opposite. 

 I’m going to tell you the story of how the coconut got its bad rap. 

Once upon a time (well to be specific, the 1950’s in the USA) there was 1 researcher.  The researcher fed rats some fully hydrogenated coconut oil.  The rats’ cholesterol levels significantly rose.  Because of the study results, all of America was informed that coconut oil contributes to developing cardiovascular disease and is a dreadful artery-clogger.  The End.

By “The End”, I mean that it was the end of coconut oil use in America, until recently.  Before that study came out, coconut oil was a regular staple of the American kitchen. 

The words that stand out to me in that story are FULLY HYDROGENATED.  Now, if you don’t know what that means, please take the time to read my last blog post about it:

http://shesnotnuts.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-you-desperately-need-to-know-about.html

Harvard scientists later proved that the coconut oil made the rats have high cholesterol because it had been FULLY HYDROGENATED.  The essential fatty acids are taken out of the oil.   Essential Fatty Acid deficiency has now been linked to high cholesterol levels, among many other major health problems.  That’s why they sell “Fish Oil with Omega’s” and milk “With Omega’s”.  Everyone knows what Omega 3’s and 6’s are these days. 

Here is an article about coconut oil and its mistaken nutrition claims of the past.  It has some really great health information about how coconut oil can help people lose fat and more.   Please read it:

http://www.sntr.com.au/index.php/healtharticles/65-coconutoildrmercola.html

Here is the truth about coconuts:

Coconuts are not a nut.  They are actually the seed of a fruit of a coconut palm tree.  The fat of the coconut is what makes it so great.  The coconut contains a “health-promoting medium-chain saturated fat” (p.421) that is only found in one other place, human breast milk.  It has a GOOD KIND OF SATURATED FAT.   This kind of fat is converted in the body to a kind of fat that actually “eliminates lipid-coated viruses, such as Cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex 1, HIV, Hemophilus, influenza, measles, the Vesicular stomatitis virus” … “In addition, not only does this fat inactivate H. pylori, but the organism, which has become resistant to a number of antibiotic drugs, appears to be unable to develop resistance to coconut’s natural microbials”(p.422)  I had to quote all of that because I could go on and on about the viruses and fungi and yeast that this fat kills or inactivates.  The list is even longer than the one I just gave.  In today’s day and age, antibiotic resistance is becoming more and more common.  People’s bodies are not built to fight these infections without the proper nutrition.  Antibiotics are becoming ineffective.  The coconut sounds like a life-saver, just maybe. 

Besides giving you one of the most health beneficial fats, the coconut is very nutritious.   Coconuts are a good source of copper, manganese, zinc, and selenium.  They provide water, carbohydrates, and protein.  They contain Vitamin C, folate, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.  They have been known to sustain human life on an island for a very long time.

In the Philippines, the coconut palm is referred to as the “Tree of Life”

And this is why:

Uses of a coconut

*Cannon ball to shoot at pirates (that we learned in the educational video up top)

*Floatation device ….check out studies being conducted on human migration and evolution based on coconuts being used as floatation devices. Very interesting stuff.(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110624142037.htm)

*The roots are used for intestinal disorders

*The flowers can be used to treat dysentery, urinary infections, diabetes, and leprosy

*The fibers of the trunk are used as a diuretic, for tapeworm treatment, and to soothe the throat

*The shell is burned and made into a medicine used to treat skin disorders and relieve toothaches

*The sap of the palm acts as a milk laxative

*The oil is used for cooking, in Ayurvedic medicine, coconut oil is used to repel lice (then saturate the hair in mayonnaise and that will suffocate the lice and kill them.  Just an FYI)

*The coconut is made up of about 50 percent water so you can drink it

*The coconut can also be your friend if you are deserted on a remote island (example: Tom Hanks in Castaway)

Ways to incorporate coconut into your diet

*Shredded coconut (make sure to read the label because it’s often highly sweetened and preserved with propylene glycol which is an ingredient in anti-freeze).  Shredded coconut can be added to so many things or just eaten plain.

*Coconut milk is good in many dishes such as curry dishes, soups, stir fry’s.

*Make your own coconut milk by putting the “meat” (insides) of the coconut in a blender or food processor with water to make desired consistency.

Tips for buying and storing coconut

*Don’t buy shredded coconut preserved with propylene glycol

*Don’t buy HYDROGENATED coconut oil since all of the beneficial fat has been removed and    hydrogenated oils raise cholesterol

*When buying canned coconut, be sure to buy WHOLE, because low-fat is another way of saying it’s been HYDROGENATED

*Same goes for coconut oil.  Don’t buy HYDROGENATED coconut oil. 

As Dustin Hoffman once said, “The two basic items necessary to sustain life are sunshine and coconut milk”.  Cheers to that!

Sources:

“The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods” by Michael Murray N.D.   (great book to have in your collection)

What You Desperately Need To Know About HYDROGENATED OIL

After learning about Hydrogenated Oil, it’s now not a mystery to me why people in the US are deficient in Essential Fatty Acids such as Omega-3 and Omega-6.  Please read this article by wisegeek.com about hydrogenated oil.  It’s really useful information and it will become even more useful information when you read some of my upcoming blogs!

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hydrogenated-oil.htm

Skin Issues 101

Skin is a huge issue for many people.  Acne, eczema, psoriasis, and chronic dry skin are all problems that can really affect daily life.  Skin is a big deal.    In some countries Brazilian tan skin is popular, and in some countries people bleach their skin because light skin is seen as beautiful.  We put makeup on our skin; use all kinds of skin care regimens and lotions.   Skin is a great indicator of our body’s inner health.  It’s the largest organ of the body and responds to anything that functioning wrong internally. 

 I remember staying up all night, watching Brooklyn sleep and stopping her every time she started itching (or rather scratching, I’m always told that you can’t itch an itch) her eczema.  At night, she wasn’t aware of the scratching and if I didn’t stop her, she would wake up in the morning bleeding.  I tried gloves on her hands, she would take them off.  I tried numerous creams.  I think about 15 different ones.  The steroid creams started to depigment her skin.  She started getting white patches all over her olive skin.  Only now, after not using creams for 5 years, is she starting to get an even skin tone back.  At one point, I threw the creams in the garbage and searched for natural fixes to help her.  Of course, the diet change helped greatly.  But, that is what got me started on learning to make soaps, lotions, and body care products. 

About Topical Medicines: Not one that I tried for Brooklyn actually worked.  It worked temporarily but the problem always came back.  That is because skin issues are an internal problem, not external.  So the problem will always come back.  Most of these topicals are either steroid based, which is terrible for children and teenagers, or they do more harm than good in the long run.  The fluctuation in how well the skin is doing is because the skin takes 30-60 days to heal a problem.  So if you start something today, then the true results won’t be seen for 30-60 days.  We Americans have come to have ideals that we can just pop a pill, put some cream on, and we will be fixed without changing anything else in our lives.  That's why these things only work temporarily and why you have to remain on the medicine, because the true problem isn't getting fixed.  Finding the real cause of the skin issue and fixing the diet are going to be the best and most permanent options.

Finding The Cause of the skin problem is probably the most difficult part.  If its eczema, then the cause is probably allergies to something (foods, skin care products, laundry soap, animals).  If it psoriasis then stress or vitamin D deficiency may be making outbreaks more frequent.  If you have acne, then a hormone imbalance is most likely the cause.  Some tips to help narrow down what the cause might be are:

**Keep a food journal.  Simply write down whatever you eat and the time you ate it.

**Keep a skin journal.  Be specific in this journal.  Write down times when your skin broke out, time of day, time of month, and what your skin looked like.

**Be aware of the products you are using.  It took me the longest time to figure out that the laundry soap I was using was causing allergic symptoms for me.  Products include, skin care products, cleaning products, craft and art products.  Its best to look at everything you put ON or IN your body because something that you never would have thought of may be causing the problem. 

After a few weeks of doing this, you may be able to see a common denominator when you are comparing the 2 journals.  Or you may notice a product that every time you use it, you get stuffy and irritated. 

Here is a great resource for looking up what is in the products that you put on your body.  It’s called “A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients” by Ruth Winter M.S…  This book helped me to make the decision to start making my own body products after I read what was really in the lotions and soaps I was using.

http://www.amazon.com/Consumers-Dictionary-Cosmetic-Ingredients-Cosmeceuticals/dp/0307451119/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323115265&sr=8-1

Plus she has a book about Food Additives that may be helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/Consumers-Dictionary-Food-Additives-7th/dp/0307408922/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1323115265&sr=8-2

If you are having a hard time finding the cause, I would recommend helping your liver function better in the meantime.  The liver is so important in cleaning toxins out of the body and the skin.  The skin is the body’s biggest organ and is the place where problems with our insides are shown, such as acne, hives, and eczema.  These skin issues are caused by something internal, whether it’s an allergy or the body’s lack of being able to effectively clear out toxins or hormones and stress.  If the liver is being damaged then how is it supposed to help clear up the skin?  I run across this problem all the time with medicine.  Medicine is hard on the liver, yet the liver needs to be functioning properly to help clear up the problem with the skin.  It’s contradicting. 

Here are some interesting things about liver cleansing:

http://www.healingdaily.com/liver-detoxification.htm

Also, if you see a Naturopath, then they can recommend a therapeutic liver cleanse.  I also drink liver detoxifying tea once in awhile that I found at the local herb store. 

Here are some things that may help your particular skin issue.

Eczema

Possible food allergy

Important to get enough essential fatty acids.  Flax seed oil, fish oil, ground flaxseed are all good options.

Zinc

Quercetin- blocks histamines

Evening Primrose oil- reduces inflammation

Caledula – can be found in salves for easy application

Most of the special eczema creams I tried on Brooklyn did not work.  I started my 5 ingredient rule.  If it had more than 5 ingredients, then I didn’t use it.  Most “soaps” found in the store are not actually soap.  They are more of a detergent.  If the “soap” says “Body Wash” then that’s because it’s not a soap.  Its federal law that they can’t call it soap unless it really is soap.  Well, detergent is very drying and causes allergic reactions on the skin.  The best soap that I have found to be most available is either Dr. Bronners Soaps or Kiss My Face soaps. 

Think:  The simpler the better when it comes to products for eczema.

Acne

Lemon Juice diluted in water can be applied topically

Vitamin B6 cream can be applied topically

Sun is very important (UV rays)

Sulfur ointment (3%-10%) topical

Tea Tree oil applies directly to infected pores

Calendula helps the skin

Aloe has been known to help

Oregon and Burdock root are great and an herb store can help you find a great combination

Zinc

Vitamin A

Selenium

Vitamin E

Brewer’s Yeast

Eat Raw Nuts

Hormone Imbalance

Eliminate milk products

Dark Chocolate can actually be good.  No milk chocolate.

Dry Skin

Check out my lotion recipe that is divine

Psoriasis

Stress Induced

Vitamin D deficient

Acupuncture has been known to help

Remember:  Getting plenty of Vitamin D is very important to skin health.  And drink plenty of WATER.  WATER, WATER, WATER is so important in the removal of toxins and proper bodily function.  Following a strict diet will be the biggest help for your skin issue, no matter what it is.  Getting enough Essential Fatty acids, vitamins A, E, and D, zinc, selenium are all very important.  Limiting meat and dairy products can also be very beneficial.  Cutting out the fried food and getting your fats from nuts and seeds is better.  Cutting out soda is huge.  The sugar and other ingredients in soda are damaging to the skin, plus it has no nutritional value.  Try some green tea or other kind of cleansing teas that are high in antioxidants.

Here is a simple example of a Skin Issue and Allergy Elimination diet:

Breakfast:

Non-citrus fruit, non-fat or skim yogurt, whole grain cereal (no sugar) with a milk alternative (which you can find a list of those on my blog), eggs, whole wheat toast (no butter, try some sunbutter or a tiny tiny bit of peanut butter)

Lunch:

Salads with vegetable.  Vegetables are going to be the best for your skin.  Some good salad ingredients are:  spinach, arugula, celery, dried cranberries, walnuts, pecans, sprouts, watercress, onions, broccoli, and shredded beets.  I make a good salad dressing by using olive oil and a flavored vinegar.

Or soups (lentil and bean soups would be filling).     For soups, I went and got a crock pot cook book.  So you could make up some soup quickly, then freeze or refrigerate whatever you don't eat.

Dinner

Baked or steamed veggies, chicken or fish, and a whole grain like brown rice, or soups, chili.  Stir fry’s are always good and versatile because you can use different ingredients. 

Think simple whole foods.  Those will be the best.  I call it the "Eat like Great-Grandma Ate" diet.  No salad in a bag and dinner in a box type of meals.  Whole foods will produce the best results. 

If you are having trouble clearing up the skin issue, I highly recommend seeing a Naturopathic Doctor.  They listen to your issues better and don’t just write you a prescription that will most likely make the problem worse.  Here is a website for locating Naturopathic Doctors in your area:

http://naturopathic.org/

I am proud to say that Brooklyn no longer has eczema.  Diet and product changes cured her.  Once in awhile she will get a patch that looks like it may turn into eczema, so I just put on some of my homemade lotion and she is good as new in the morning.  If you have any specific questions about my journey with Brooklyn’s eczema or products we use, please email me.  I would be glad to help offer suggestions in any way I can. 

“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own SKIN.  That or a kick-a$$ red lipstick.”  Gwyneth Paltrow.

How To Make Thick Lotion

I want to start off “Skin Week” with a thick lotion recipe that will tackle your dry skin or eczema issues.  Getting the supplies is the hardest part of making this luxurious lotion.  I can actually SEE and FEEL the difference in my skin when I use it.  And it only takes about 10 minutes to make.  It’s totally worth it!

What you will need:

Supplies:

Double Boiler ( or a regular stovetop pan will work)

Stick blender

2 Mixing bowls

Measuring device to measure ingredients (I use a scale that I can “tare (set to zero)” before adding each ingredient so I don’t have to use any other measuring device.  Plus it makes it very fast.)

Thermometer to measure temperature of water and oil

Rubbing Alcohol

Containers to store lotion (I like to date my containers so I know when I made the lotion)

Paper towels

Spatula

Ingredients:

Purified water

Extra Light Olive Oil

Sweet Almond Oil (or substitution oil)

Jojoba Oil

Emulsifying Wax   (E-Wax) - E-Wax is what creates the smooth texture and keeps the lotion together preventing separation.

Palm Stearic Acid- Buy a vegetable stearic acid instead of an animal one.  When mixed with the E-Wax, it creates the creamy texture. 

Bees Wax

Vitamin E

Steps:

***NOTE:  This lotion does not contain any preservatives.  It will only keep good for about 3 months when kept in a cool, dark place.  Store lotion in the refrigerator and it will keep for around 6 months.    You must be sterile when making the lotion.  All containers that you use must first be wiped down with alcohol.  I usually wipe all my spoons, bowls, and measuring cups with rubbing alcohol just to be safe.  You don’t want to introduce bacteria into the lotion. 

1.        In a stovetop pan ( using a double boiler works best) mix together the following:

                5 ounce of Extra- Light olive oil

                3 ounce of sweet almond oil

                2 ounce of jojoba oil

1.2   ounce of E-Wax

.7 ounce of palm stearic acid

.5 ounce of bees wax

·         Melt these ingredients together on low heat.  Don’t let the oils go over 120˚ F.  After heated pour Oil Mixture into a bowl.

2.       Heat purified water to 120˚ F

3.       Start mixing the Oil Mixture with the stick blender.  Create a vortex (it looks like a spinning funnel, like water going down a drain). 

4.       Slowly pour the water into the vortex little by little making sure to completely blend before adding more water and keep blending until the mixture is creamy and smooth.

5.       Add ¼ teaspoon of Vitamin E oil.

6.       At this point you can either let the lotion cool in the bowl or divide it into other containers.  But, cover the lotion with a paper towel and put in a cool, dark place to let it breathe for about 8 hours.  That will cut down on the condensation. Or, you can put the lotion in the refrigerator to cool faster. 

*My daughter is allergic to TREE NUTS but she is able to use almond oil.  This may or may not be the case for other people with TREE NUT allergies.  If you would like to try to substitute oil for the almond oil then I would suggest Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Sesame Oil, or High Oleic Sunflower Oil.  You may have to experiment to find the texture you desire. 

*You can always experiment with different essential oils and herbs to create different smells and colors to your lotion.  Add them during the cooling phase.  The standard amount of essential oil is about 5-10 drops per ounce of carrier oil.  That’s the fun part about making it yourself; it’s all custom made for you! 

Some good essential oils for the skin are:

Acne:

Chamomile Blue, Tea Tree, Lemon, Lavender Highland

Eczema:

Chamomile, Geranium, Evening Primrose

All Skin Conditions:

Chamomiles, Jasmine, Lavender Highland, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Frankincense

If you have any questions when making the lotion, please contact me! Cheers to happy skin!