The Benefits of Facial Steaming

Peace and prosperity friends and family, We tend to do a lot of things to ourselves to keep up a flawless appearance. Skin peeling, botox, laser treatments, and have you heard of these placenta facials?! It makes me wonder have we gone too far? I mean, what did people do in the “old” days before …

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Quick cold-busting home remedy, one that doesn’t have you scrambling to find the nearest herb store or CVS

Good day family and friends, While it’s not technically cold and flu season, (isn’t that something that we’ve designated a season to being sick collectively?), here’s a quick home remedy to stop a cold dead in its tracks. And you may not have to leave the house to make it. Here’s what you need: Onion …

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Arnica: Nature’s Pain Killer

Hi everyone, Pain seems to be an understood part of our lives. Why do you think that is? What is it that makes us numb pain, ignore it or push through it as if we’re too busy to slow down to pay attention? I have so many theories, but what I’ve learned is that nothing is a …

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Painful Periods Be Gone: Herbs that cleanse and tone the womb for healthy reproductive function

Hi all, So many women of all aspects of life suffer from similar ailments. Fibroid tumors have dramatically increased in the last decade as well as other uterine afflictions. Not only are painful periods far too common, some of the underlying things causing it are wreaking havoc on women’s fertility and reproductive functions. Before getting …

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Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar is a magic potion for hair. And it saves you money!

Hi everybody! I decided to try this baking soda shampoo and apple cider vinegar conditioner on my hair yesterday. I happened to hear about this nearly a month ago when someone was telling me about a lady who washes her children’s hair with baking soda and water. She claimed it got so much …

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The Benefits of Facial Steaming Quick cold-busting home remedy, one that doesn’t have you scrambling to find the nearest herb store or CVS Arnica: Nature’s Pain Killer Painful Periods Be Gone: Herbs that cleanse and tone the womb for healthy reproductive function Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar is a magic potion for hair. And it saves you money!

May 01

The Benefits of Facial Steaming

Categories:

Cleanses, natural remedies, natural skin care

by Jamie Bonfiglio

Peace and prosperity friends and family,

We tend to do a lot of things to ourselves to keep up a flawless appearance. Skin peeling, botox, laser treatments, and have you heard of these placenta facials?! It makes me wonder have we gone too far? I mean, what did people do in the “old” days before all this technology ran wild? Keeping a healthy appearance is not that complicated. Hygiene is a major factor as well as diet. What you put in, you get out. I too have tried some of the acne-fighting things growing up. Some were too harsh for my skin. Others worked well, but were full of chemicals, dyes and other gunk. It’s time to get back to basics.

Organic Facial Steam Bath

How do you know you need a facial steam?:

you’re prone to breakouts
your skin is dry, dull and lacks vibrance
your skin is excessively oily
you tend to have blackheads and clogged pores

You DON’T need expensive machinery!

Infomercials make a bag of rocks sound appealing as if your life is crappy without them. Trust me, to steam your face all you need is a glass or ceramic bowl and hot steamy water. I’d stay away from plastic. Plastic tends to leak harmful chemicals into whatever it contains.

Here’s what you do:

Mix the contents of the bag; the herbs are separated during packaging
Take about 1/3 to 1/2 of the entire bag of herbs and add it to a bowl of hot, steamy water
Grab a towel. (good music should be playing; good music should ALWAYS be playing )
Hold your head over the steamy bowl and cover your head with the towel.
Steam away. Try to hang in there at least 10 minutes. The smell is divine, but it can also be pretty potent at first. (There’s organic red roses in this and orange essential oil, your sinuses will open up too!)

The herbs can be reused. I tend to do this with herbal teas too. No use throwing them away when there’s still some goodness left! Filter the herbs out of the water and let them air dry somewhere. I’d try to get at least 3 steams out of them before tossing.

The Benefits of Facial Steaming

Well, doing it at home is going to save you a ton of money! Some spas charge anywhere from $25 to hundreds of dollars for a steam bath. Sheesh! Get yourself some herbs and pamper yourself in your PJ’s

Facial steaming:

softens the outer layer of skin, which helps get rid of dead skin cells, bacteria, dirt and other irritants that may be trapped there causing breakouts
allows your newly cleaned skin to absorb more of the beneficial products you use after the steaming
increases blood circulation, encouraging perspiration which rids your body of toxins and waste

The combined herbs in the Organic Facial Steam Bath work together to rejuvenate your skin, speed up skin cell regeneration, increase the water content in the outer layer of skin, improve the elasticity and soften the skin, and condition the skin’s complexion. How’s that for a treat?

Come on over to facebook and tell me what you think about this alternative.

With love,

Jamie

http://twitter.com/jamie_bonfiglio

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Tags: back to basic skin care, encourage perspiration, facial steam, increase circulation, organic herbal steam bath, release toxens, skin elasticity, soften skin

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Apr 28

Quick cold-busting home remedy, one that doesn’t have you scrambling to find the nearest herb store or CVS

Categories:

Cold/Flu, Immune boost, natural remedies

by Jamie Bonfiglio

Good day family and friends,

While it’s not technically cold and flu season, (isn’t that something that we’ve designated a season to being sick collectively?), here’s a quick home remedy to stop a cold dead in its tracks. And you may not have to leave the house to make it. Here’s what you need:

Onion

Garlic

Water

Lemons (organic)

Cayenne pepper

Honey (optional)

Get a teapot or small saucepan. Fill it with enough water to make a large amount of tea.
Add half an onion and a garlic clove. Press the garlic clove first to expose its volatile “juices.”
Boil until you feel it’s taken on the properties of the onion and garlic. I never time it, but you want to at least end up with enough water left for a cup of tea. Don’t boil all your water away. You can even let it simmer or cover and remove from heat and let it sit for awhile like you would steep a normal tea.
When you’re ready. Filter out the onion and garlic.
Add enough freshly squeezed lemon juice that you can stand. The more the better.
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Honey can be added, but notice that it’s optional. There really is no way to make this taste “good.” It’s medicine for crying out loud. But if honey makes it more bearble for you then do it.

You are going to sweat. And be glad that you do. One way to get rid of or kill viruses, bacteria and toxins is to sweat it out. Drink up. Don’t be a wuss. Hennesy, vodka, red wine are all tough going down. But they can all make you feel gooooood, lol. Just kidding some people are angry drunks, shrugs.

Share some of your home remedies below.

Talk to you later,

Jamie

Come follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/jamie_bonfiglio and facebook http://www.faceook.com/canilivelovely

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Tags: cayenne pepper, cold and flu, garlic, home remedies, lemon juice, natural remedies for cold and flu, onions

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Apr 28

Arnica: Nature’s Pain Killer

Categories:

Healthy living, natural remedies

by Jamie Bonfiglio

Hi everyone,

Pain seems to be an understood part of our lives. Why do you think that is? What is it that makes us numb pain, ignore it or push through it as if we’re too busy to slow down to pay attention? I have so many theories, but what I’ve learned is that nothing is a coincidence. There are always signals that our bodies use to try to get our attention. A headache isn’t caused by lack of aspirin. So why grab aspirin to make it go away? Sometimes it’s as simple as needing more water. When our muscles ache it isn’t because of lack of Icy Hot. It’s often lack of oxygen and having created an anaerobic environment. Nevertheless, pain is inevitable in most instances. And ultimately, pain is NOT necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it reminds you that you’re alive! What about after a good exercise? When you’ve pushed yourself harder than before and awakened muscles that you never knew you had. That soreness is a great reminder and often a great motivator to keep going.

Whatever the cause of pain, however, it’s no fun to be in it for long. What happens though, is we use chemicals and man made products to erase it, piling toxin on top of toxin, which may actually be what’s contributing to the pain to begin with. And the cycle continues. But let me tell you how much Nature is in tune with you. I’ve said this before (and got a bunch of crap over it, but so what.) Every drug got its start in nature. Scientists have studied nature, herbs, flowers, etc. in an effort to mimic its ability to heal. Do they do this to make nature better? Not really. It’s usually because you cannot patent an herb. Therefore, taking it’s properties to the lab and remixing it to something man made allows a company to patent it. Go figure, but that’s another topic. Nature has always been prepared to help you in your worst state. Even when it comes to pain. I know. I used several natural pain relief remedies in childbirth. Today I want to focus on Arnica, nature’s pain killer. While Arnica is not the only pain relieving herb, it sure is amazing!

arnica

Arnica has commonly been used to relieve bruising and inflammation. The components in arnica provide a reduction in pain and swelling due to minor injuries, muscle sprains and strains, and even insect bites. It’s natural wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties contribute to its use in sports injuries and fracture-related swelling and bruising. It’s even been used for pain caused by rheumatism and arthritic problems. I wouldn’t recommend it when you’re pregnant as with most other herbs during pregnancy. Nor would it be wise to start using it if you have kidney or liver disease. Consult your physician or health care provider. Also, arnica is not to be used on open wounds.

The most common forms of arnica are gel, ointments, and creams. Alone or combined with other herbs, it makes for an undeniable replacement for Icy hot or other over the counter pain remedies. Here’s a link to the pain relieving rub my honey uses after going hard at the gym. His boss also uses it on his ankles, three times a day in fact because it provides some relief. Poor guy fell off a roof and fractured both ankles. Try it and tell me what you think.

Leave me a comment when you can and let me know other ways you’ve found relief.

Thanks for stopping by as always.

With Love,

Jamie

http://twitter.com/jamie_bonfiglio

http://www.facebook.com/canilivelovely

Image credit: http://www.chatto.com/arnica-montana-flower-extract/

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Tags: anti-inflammatory, arnica, arthritis, bruising, muscle sprains, nature's pain killer, ointment, pain killer, pain relief, rheumatism

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Apr 17

Painful Periods Be Gone: Herbs that cleanse and tone the womb for healthy reproductive function

Categories:

Cleanses, Healthy living, Sex and sexual health, women's health

by Jamie Bonfiglio

Hi all,

painful-periods2

So many women of all aspects of life suffer from similar ailments. Fibroid tumors have dramatically increased in the last decade as well as other uterine afflictions. Not only are painful periods far too common, some of the underlying things causing it are wreaking havoc on women’s fertility and reproductive functions. Before getting pregnant, you always want the healthiest, most nourishing foundaion for your little bambino to develop. A lot of us are reminded how toxic we are when our cycles take us into a whirlwind of emotional rollercoasters and fetal positions on the couch every month. I was a vegetarian for years and noticed that painful periods became non-existent for me. Well, until I moved back down south where eating “healthy” is not always the easiest to do all the time. Being the naturalista that I am, I began looking into what I could do to nourish my womb and rid it of whatever was causing such grief. What I found was an herbal tea that blew me away. As you may have noticed my stance on herbs and natural “medicine” from previous posts, here are some herbs that helped me have a menstraul cycle without the agony and dismay.

NOTE: one of the side effects of cleansing the womb is an increase in fertility. That’s what she’s here to do right, develop little mini-me’s?! Keep that in mind if you do or do not want to conceive.

Blach Cohosh Root: the chemicals in the root of this plant help relieve the body of inflammation and pain. It’s known for its use for menstrual pain, premenstrual migraine relief, lower back and leg pain related to menstruation and more. This herb can bring on a menstrual cycle and assist with uterine contractions after birth. You should NOT however, self prescribe black cohosh during pregnancy as it may cause complications. Consult your physician or midwife before taking this herb in any form. In fact, do that for any herb you’re considering taking during pregnancy just to be on the safe side, especially the ones listed here. Most of them can bring on menstrual bleeding, NOT what you want when you’re pregnant.

Red Raspberry Leaf: This heavenly herb acts as a muscle relaxer. And it tastes good too. The components of red raspberry leaf allow it to help reduce heavy menstrual flow and help with contractions during labor. Helping your uterine muscles means less work for you and less cramping. It tones the uterine muscles leaving them healthy and able to do the job without the agony every month. It’s very rich in vitamins and minerals including zinc which helps strengthen connective tissues.

Dong Quai Root: This powerful root helps controls muscle spasms, hence less cramping and pain. It has an estrogen-like effect on the body, but can not be a substitute for estrogen. Not only can Dong Quai Root help with pain relief, it also helps with irregular or abnormal bleeding and suppressed blood flow by improving circulation. It’s also used a blood purifier, and we definitely want that benefit before and during menstruation.

Wild Yam Root: My my my, this herb is an all around goodie. It works wonders on the smooth muscles of the uterus, helping of course to relieve cramping and pain. But get this, it also helps reduce spasm in the fallopian tubes and ovaries and relieve pain from ovarian cysts. And believe me I know the pain of ovarian cysts. Every month the same side would have me grimacing in pain, bunched over. Depending on how bad they are, doctors may recommend surgery. While I never consulted a doctor, I had the hunch that cleansing myself would do the job. Just know that your body can fix itself if you give it what it needs.

Ashwaghanda Root Powder: While some things outside of ourselves may contribute to difficultes in fertility, sometimes our vey own immune system makes it hard. Ashwaghanda root has an overall effect on the endocrine system, assisting with fertility issues that may be caused by autoimmune disorders. It helps to balance hormonal fluctuations. Together with the other herbs, the uterus is strengthened and renewed.

Yellow Dock Root: very rich in iron and another herb that helps relieve menstrual pain. It’s been extensively used for help with regulating abnormal menstrual periods, and with heavy bleeding. Yellow dock root supports the liver and can assist in removing toxins. One thing that may cause painful periods is an overtaxed liver. It’s working so hard to filter out toxins and excess hormones, sometimes it needs help. If your cycles are short and when the next cycle begins you notice a dark, brown tint to the blood then that’s a sign you’re not releasing all the blood needed to be released during menses. That means old blood and hormonal build up is occuring which makes it that much more painful the next month.

Damiana Leaf: a libido booster for women. Damiana has been used throughout history to increase bloodflow to the reproductive system and relieve hormonal disturbances. It is antiseptic and diuretic.

The feeling of freedom you have when your menstrual cycle flows unnoticed is inexplicable. Preparing your womb for your future pregnancy is also an accomplishment for those who want to conceive. It empowers you as a woman. Get rid of the pain and get back to living.

The above list of herbs can be found in Can I Live Lovely’s Womb Rejuvenating Tea.

Stevia is added as a sweetener, but you can sweeten it as you desire. This amazing tea can be found at http://canilivelovely.weebly.com/womens-health.html

Diet of course plays a major role in how your womb cleanses itself. Always continue to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. The tea can be drank throughout the month and during your cycle. Remember to consult your physician if you are taking any medications or before starting an herbal remedy. Sending healing rejuvenation your way. I hope that it helps you as it has helped me.

Thanks for letting me share with you!

With love,

Jamie

References:

http://www.bewellbuzz.com/healing-herbs/dong-quai-root/

http://natural-fertility-info.com/reproductive-system-support-for-women-with-wild-yam.html

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_yellow_dock.htm

http://natural-fertility-info.com/fertility-herbs

Picture Reference:

http://www.bodyminddetox.com/alleviate-painful-menstruation/

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Tags: abnormal periods, ashwaghanda root, black cohosh root, cleanse, damiana, dong quai root, estrogen, fertility, hormonal balance, increase circulation, menstrual cramping, ovarian cysts, painful periods, red raspberry leaf, reproductive health, wild yam root, yellow dock root

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Mar 02

Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar is a magic potion for hair. And it saves you money!

Categories:

hair conditioner, Healthy living, natural hair care

by Jamie Bonfiglio

Hi everybody!

I decided to try this baking soda shampoo and apple cider vinegar conditioner on my hair yesterday. I happened to hear about this nearly a month ago when someone was telling me about a lady who washes her children’s hair with baking soda and water. She claimed it got so much dirt out. Well that sent me on an investigative journey! Once I started looking into it I found that apple cider vinegar is praised for its clarifying and conditioning abilities. I filed it away in my mental recipe box. As a Naturalista developing my own line of hair and skin care products I’m always filing ideas in there.

Away from home with no hair care products and a desperate need to wash my hair, off to the store to seize the opportunity to try this instead.

It’s really simple to put this magic potion together. Although I’m not into measuring much (I’m the same way with cooking), here’s a general breakdown of the formula I used.

For the Baking Soda Shampoo:

1 heaping tablespoon of baking soda

About 2 tablespoons water. Mine wasn’t very pasty as I added plenty of water and mixed together. You can add less if you want it thicker.

Scoop it out, apply and massage to your tresses. Don’t expect the bubbly lather, it’s just old-fashioned baking soda. Try to work it through all over. I don’t know what you will experience, but I literally smelled the hair products being washed out of my hair.

After working it through my entire head and scalp, I rinsed.

I did this entire process a second time just because I’m so used to washing my hair more than once on a regular day. I may not do this next time and see if I notice a difference. I did all this in the kitchen then transferred to the shower to condition.

For the Apple Cider Conditioner Rinse:

2 Tablespoons ACV ( I used two tbsp because my hair is pretty thick. One tablespoon can be used if your hair is fine. The general rule of thumb is 1 part ACV to 1part water.)

2 Tablespoons of water or more

This I did in a bowl, but it would probably be easier to apply if you have a misting spray bottle that will allow you to spray your entire head. My way will get you a mouth/face full of vinegar. Luckily I was in the shower…with my eyes closed. :-)

I poured the entire contents of the bowl over my head with my head tilted back. I let it sit while I took a shower. Once I finished my shower, I rinsed. Easy peasy!

While I was rinsing I could already feel how soft my hair was. I was definitely not expecting that since vinegar is so acidic.

I let my hair air dry and it actually dried pretty curly. The next day it’s still super soft. I’m definitely a fan, especially since it all cost a few bucks to put together. I saved a lot of money with these two simple ingredients and will save even more in the future. For those who are worried…no you really won’t smell like vinegar. The smell fades away before it’s even rinsed out completely.

Tell me your experience when you try it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

With love,

Jamie Bonfiglio

http://www.canilivelovely.com

http://twitter.com/jamie_bonfiglio

http://facebook.com/canilivelovely

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Tags: ACV, ACV conditioner for hair, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, baking soda shampoo, natural conditioner and shampoo

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Feb 27

2 Toxic Food Ingredients to Avoid for Beginners on Their Healthy Living Journey

Categories:

Food, Healthy living, Nutrition

by Jamie Bonfiglio

Hello friends and family,

When I began learning about what is healthy and what is not, I was overwhelmed with how many things are not good for us and should be avoided. It kinda makes you want to throw up your hands and say to hell with it! I can’t eat anything!! Rest assured though, there are healthy alternatives to EVERYTHING. But you have to know what to look for. Of course everything you buy is not going to be fresh produce. You still need condiments, spices, marinades, dressings etc. to add to your delicious new diet. To start you out…

Here are 2 toxic food ingredients that you want to AVOID:

Aspartame- otherwise known as Nutrasweet, Equal and some other artificial sweeteners. This really is a chemical poison. It’s known as an “excytotoxin” and can damage neurons in the brain by over-exciting them, allowing too much calcium into the cells. Aspartame can cause depression, irritability, chest pains, heart palpitations, headaches/migraines, weight gain, seizures, dizziness, breathing problems, insomnia, anxiety attacks, joint pain and more. Chewing gum, soft drinks, bottled teas/drinks and other things commonly contain this toxic ingredient. Look at your labels and just stay away!
High Fructose Corn Syrup- We’ve probably all seen the commercials saying that in moderation this poison is OK, and whether it’s corn sugar or cane sugar your body can’t tell the difference. What a bunch of CRAP!! Your body can definitely tell the presence of foreign, toxic chemicals easily. I always say consider the source whenever I get any info. These commercials are paid for by the Corn industry. Do you think they’d have reason to tell you it’s OK? High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener used in just about everyting from ketchup and sauces to bread and ice cream. Since it’s influx into the food industry, obesity has risen substantially. The HFCS sugars are extracted in a secretive chemical enzymatic process and they do NOT biochemically resemble natural sugar in any way. It wreaks havoc on your blood sugar levels, your pancreas and liver. HFCS contains an unnatural combination of fructose and glucose in an unbound form. Since these sugars are not bound, they enter the blood stream much faster and are not broken down the same as natural cane sugar. It spikes insulin levels, creating metabolic disturbances. It contributes to “fatty liver”, accelerated aging, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, obesity, appetite disturbances, dementia, cancer and more. Again, read your labels and steer clear.

Now are there other things to avoid? Of course, but again this is only to get you started. I don’t want to give you a book of no-no’s and have you discouraged. Get in the habit of reading labels. Before you know it, you’ll begin to notice the same ingredients in food products that contain these two toxic items listed already. You’ll automatically avoid a lot of other junk by just looking for these two. Make it interesting and include the kids on the search when you can.

Happy shopping and stay tuned for more,

Jamie Bonfiglio

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Tags: artificial sweeteners, aspartame, corn sugar, corn syrup, dangerous, healthy eating, high fructose corn syrup, ingredients to avoid, side effects, sweeteners, toxic ingredients

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Feb 22

Chlorophyll: Nature’s Flu Vaccine

Categories:

Cleanses, Cold/Flu, Food, Immune boost

by Jamie Bonfiglio

chlorophyll-leaves

Hello everyone!

So it seems this flu thing is still lingering around for some. In all my twenty-two years (yeah that sounds like a good age, remember it like it was yesterday), I’ve never experienced the dread that some describe when they’ve come down with the flu. And I’m a little biased when it comes to flu shots. Those things freak me out. As a homebirth mama, all natural healer, it’s completely backwards to me to make yourself sick to try to avoid getting sick. With a few people I know, every time they got the flu vaccine they got the flu. Shrugs. Why bother?

I tell you what though, prevention is so much better than the cure. Trying to not go off into conspiracy theorist rants, there is not one pharmaceutical company that has your best interest at heart. There is no man made chemical, aka medicine/drug, that can cure anything. But every man made drug got it’s start by copying something natural. When everyone around me was coughing up a lung and too tired to get out of bed, I filled up on chlorophyll, herbal immune-boosting teas, and orange juice. Didn’t even get a sniffle.

Here’s why chlorophyll is so powerful…

Take a look at the chemical structure of your blood:

This is hemoglobin, the iron-containing part of your red blood cells that cariies oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body to burn nutrients and provide energy.

This is why it’s so important to eat iron-rich foods and do deep breathing exercises to prevent fatigue and other complications.

Now take a look at the chemical structure of chlorophyll:

Chlorophyll structure

Now I know that most of us are not in any way, shape or form organic chemists. To spare you the extensive details, take a look at the center of each structure. The part surrounded by the four N’s, which stands for Nitrogen, is either Fe (Iron) or Mg++ (Magnesium). The main difference between human blood and chlorophyll, which can be considered the “blood” of the plant, is Magnesium. Logically imagine this if you will. Your blood is toxic for whatever reason, be it your thoughts, your food, or your air. Because chlorophyll resembles our blood so much it can help flush out the toxicity and strengthen you from the inside out. As a result, your immune system acts like the superhero that it is to kill off viruses, bacteria and other yucky stuiff. So there you have it…Nature’s Flu vaccine. And drinking it is like drinking liquid sunlight! And if you’re not aware of the beneifts of vitamin D, then hang on for another post. Or better yet, go look it up and get back to me. Share with the community on Facebook at Can I Live Lovely.

Where can you find chlorophyll you ask?

Any health food store should have it. If there’s a Whole Foods or similar store in your area it will be easy to find. Add it to your bottled water or you can try it in juice. Some people even notice that it helps them have regular bowel movements, which is always a plus. It does NOT have a laxative effect that causes stomach cramping or bloating. At least not to me or anyone else I’ve talked to. It does however help ward off the flu, a cold, and other heeby jeebies. So before you go stand in line for the flu vaccine, consider chlorophyll as nature’s gift of prevention to you.

For other tips on herbs and food that strengthens your immune system, read A Tip a Day Keeps the Doctor Away. It’s ready for immediate download.

Happy healing!

Let me know how it changes your life,

Jamie Bonfiglio

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Tags: blood, blood cleanse, chlorophyll, cold and flu, flu shots, flu vaccine, hemoglobin, immune boost, immune system, iron, liquid sunlight, magnesium

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Feb 21

Can I Get Your Opinion on Something?

Categories:

opinions and surveys

by Jamie Bonfiglio

Survey image

Hi Friends and Family!

I hope this post finds you well and doing something that makes you feel alive. It’s been a joyful couple of weeks here and I’ve been wondering about you all. Instead of the usual informative post, I’d like to ask your opinion about something.

Here at Can I Live Lovely, I want to serve YOU and make sure you and your family are supported on your health journeys. I’m always working on ways to empower you and make it easier to add healthy habits to your life. But, I need your input.

Could you take 2 minutes to answer this short, 4 question survey? It simply asks your thoughts about a few things and your answers will definitely help me to help you.

Thanks in advance to all of you for taking time out of your busy lives to give me your thoughts.

You can find the survey here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RXC3PNC

Also, I couldn’t let you leave without a chance to win something! There’s a contest going on over at the Can I Live Lovely facebook page. If you love juicing like I do, post a pic of your favorite juice with a brief description/recipe before February 27th and enter for your chance to win! And don’t forget to like the page!

Love and healing to you all,

Jamie Bonfiglio

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Tags: eating healthy, eating organic, meal planning, natural skin care products, opinion, recipes, saving money buying organic, skin care regimen, survey, weight loss

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Feb 18

Need Energy? Try a Cacao (chocolate) Smoothie

Categories:

Food

by Jamie Bonfiglio

Hello everyone,

So it’s Monday and back to work we go. Some of us live such hectic lifestyles that we don’t have much time for breakfast. Coffee only sustains us for so long before the afternoon crash and burn when we’d rather crawl under a bed somewhere. But worry no more. Have I got a tasty treat for you!

Chocolate, Banana, Peanut Butter Smoothie

chocolate banana smoothie

Ingredients:

1 whole banana

tablespoon of Cacao powder (this is NOT Hershey’s chocolate or any other milk chocolate for that matter so no cheating)

Tablespoon (or 2) peanut butter

Milk of choice (almond, regular, coconut) to get it to the consistency you want

Sweetener (optional and no white sugar, or artificial sweeteners folks)

Cacao is a natural, unrefined form of chocolate that is packed full of goodness. It has all the antioxidants that dark chocolate is missing. It’s also a source of Vitamin C, phenethylamine (the feel-good neurotransmitter responsible for the feelings of love!), Omega-6 fatty acids, serotonin and tryptophan. Ok, Ok…breakdown of the scientific words:

Serotonin is another neurotransmitter (a chemical that send signals to your brain and nervous system) responsible for feelings of well-being and happiness. It assists in blood clotting duringwound healing, balances your mood and appetite and also influences sleep and impulse control.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that’s commonly deficient in those who eat mostly cooked foods. We cannot produce it on our own and must get it from our diet. It also helps with mood and sleep.

Peanut Butter provides a source of protein, while the bananas provide potassium, fiber, and sweetness.

Whip up this yummy Cacao smoothie in the morning or prepare it before you go to bed for a quick, on-the-go energy boost…without the afternoon crash.

Leave a comment below and let me know how you like it.

Stay well my friends,

Jamie Bonfiglio

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Tags: banana, Cacao, energy, energy boost, fiber, impulse control, mood, peanut butter, serotonin, sleep, smoothie, tryptophan

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Feb 17

Color my pain away: Art heals

Categories:

Art, Chakra

by Jamie Bonfiglio

Hi everyone,

If you have perused my site before then you’re aware of my creative side (if you haven’t perused, get to it! ^^^up there, see the link to paintings, crafts and more? click it ). Growing up I didn’t nurture this gift as I was one of the many who were told to go to school, get good grades, and get a good job. Soooo, yeah. Did that, and my creativity was suppressed but Boy O’ Boy have I found a new found freedom to be passionate about what I do! Have you ever been working on a project of any kind and just completely lost track of time? Anything that may have been worrying you or stressing you out didn’t exist as you were lost in a world of imagination. I live for that feeling now especially since becoming a mother almost three years ago. We always want more for our kids than we had so I want to live the example of what it looks like to do what you love and love what you do. With your support and feedback, I’m able to set an example for my daughter that I thought only happened in dreams. And for that I’m extremely grateful to you and I owe you a whole lot. (Stay tuned for a free giveaway soon)

But back to the task at hand, would you like to set a goal with me to commit to stop and turn on your imagination when you get ticked off at something, or when someone increases your workload, or when the unexpected expense rears its ugly head? For those who are unaware, there is an entire field of therapy involving art. People actually get degrees for this! Art has been used to pull suppressed emotions out of a person’s psyche, release emotional triggers, inspire, love and nurture. Think about it. For the parents out there, how special is it when your kid makes you something and gives it to you for the altar that’s been made of your refrigerator door? How special does it feel to get a handmade gift from a friend or family member? Art, however, is not limited to what’s on the canvas. Music gives me LIFE! Have you ever had someone sing to you? Cooking is the artistic talent of blending spices and textures to create tantalizing treats. And I don’t mean that boxed, frozen stuff either. I love to cook. I especially like to watch people enjoying my cooking.

Here’s my most recent creative feat:

Billie Holiday2

I had fun creating this one. I played with a LOT of colors and a fading techniques I’d learned recently. She makes we want to sing and open my heart to the emotions lurking under daily rigmarole (yeah I had to look up the spelling for that one). I envision a smokey blues club, trumpets and saxophones playing, and cocktails flowing…on the rocks! Cheers to you! Now when I come home and stare at Ms. Holliday, I’m reminded to belt it out. Let it go. Release. What comes to mind when you look at this piece?

Another one that inspires self-expression and freedom is this one:

KundaliniMama from website

I call her Kundalini Mama. If you’re familiar with yoga or sexual energy, Kundalini should not be Greek to you. Don’t fret, if it sounds like something bazaar let me explain. In meditation, each practitioner’s ulitmate goal is raising the energy. The Chakras, represented by those colorful circles lining her body, are energy centers that effect diffferent aspects of you mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Each color corresponds to a frequency or vibration associated with the chakra.

Red- root chakra; located at the base of the spine, associated with survival, safety, physical self
Orange- sacral chakra; located in the lower abdomen, low back, reproductive organs, associated with creativity, pleasure, sexuality
Yellow (the actual color yellow is too hard to read here)- solar plexus; located at upper abdomen between navel and sternum, associated with will, self-esteem, personal power
Green- heart chakra; located at heart center of body, associated with uncoditional love and healing. Learn how to feed your heart chakra here.
Light Blue- throat chakra; located at the base of the throat, associated with self-expression, truth, communication. I wrote a previous article about the throat chakra here.
Indigo- third eye chakra; located between and slightly above your eyebrows, associated with insight, intuitive sight, physical sight, intellect
Violet- crown chakra; located at the top of the head, connection to the Divine, sense of oneness, transcendence, spiritual experience

Some will say there’s plenty more chakras stretching into other ethereal dimensions, but these are the basics. The kundalini is described as a serpent energy. Imagine a sleeping serpent lying at the base of your spine. Through meditation, you awaken your serpent sending it up through each chakra, balancing each before progressing to the next until it reaches the Crown chakra and you have awakened to a Divine consciousness as described by Jesus, Buddha and other religions.

As Kundalini Mama dances and spins in her fire she has evoked an amazing energy of Creation and freedom from the invisible bondage we find ourselves in often. She definitely makes me feel powerful! How about you?

So who’s ready to make the commitment with me to get lost in imagination instead of frustration and worry? I challenge you to create something today. Don’t worry about technique. Don’t worry about your lack of art history. Don’t worry about the outcome. You cannot mess up in art. Art is life. Sorta like martial artists referring to everything as “kung fu” or some other form of martial arts. It’s already in you with no training necessary. I can’t wait to hear about, or better yet, see your masterpieces. Leave me a comment or link below.

I hope you enjoy my art. Go on over to http://nandisgift.yolasite.com to bring some home and reap the benefits of a little art therapy. And come back often to check for new paintings. Maybe I’ll do a behind the scenes segment so you can see my creations unfolding. What do you think?

Talk to you later my lovely creative friends,

Jamie Bonfiglio

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Tags: abstract, art therapy, Billie Holiday, chakras, colorful art, creativity, emotional triggers, fading technique, inspiration, kundalini, love, nurturing, suppressed emotions

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Feb 13

Tai Chi: a Powerful healing regimen for Quads and Hamstrings

Categories:

Exercise

by Jamie Bonfiglio

Hello everyone,

May I fascinate you for a moment? Years ago while studying to become an Holistic Health Practitioner, I learned of an area of healing referred to as Body Mind Psychology. For those who are unaware of what this means, listen up, because it is truly breathtaking what the body can tell you. There are several books on the topic. To generally describe how it works, we must imagine our experiences as children. By the time we’re born we have already begun learning how to behave, react, and express somewhat in our mother’s wombs. When we make it to this plane, we start a new way of learning that sets us up for the rest of our lives. Psychologists say that by the time we are 5yrs old, we are pretty much the person we are going to be as an adult. This is when your subconscious mind is absorbing the happenings of this life. However, the subconscious mind develops before the reasoning/logical mind, which evolves around the age of 7 or so. So you guessed it…by the time we are able to reason out the nonsense or technicalities of this world, our subconscious mind has already been programmed and molded it’s perspective. Any one who’s heard all the New Age gurus speak of the Law of Attraction, the power of your thoughts, etc. realizes that the subconscious mind is responsible for how our lives play out. If you don’t like your current experience, then you must reprogram your subconscious. But think about it. Your little muscles are growing with your subconscious mind too and they tend to hold the same patterns the subconscious mind holds. Through the world of Body Mind Psychology, we learn how to see, via our body movements, postures and “relaxed” positions, just what lessons you managed to pick up from mom and dad or guardians when you were a wee litlle one. Join me down the rabbit hole…mmm-k?

Take a look at these magnificent muscles: Quads and Hamstrings

Quads, hamstrings

By the time I got into holistic health, I’d already obtained a Biology degree. However, the latter did not explain the in-depth phenomena of the human body like Eastern philosophies did. I began to learn that body parts have a more symbolic function than we address in western medicine. I must be clear that every message we received as children were not true. Most of these untruths cause blockages in the body temple, literally. Here are some negative learning patterns housed in the thighs:

Life is hard
Don’t outdo me
I have to work hard because of you
Get out of my way
I’ll do it myself
Suffering is good for you
Act like a man/woman
If you compete, you’ll lose
Nothing is good enough
Others can do better than I can
Act helpless, stupid, scared and someone will come take care of me
Be passive
Take on more than you can handle
Don’t let your parents down
No rest for the weary

Going through this list, it’s easy to see where a learning can create massive, strong thighs or softer, smaller thighs among other things. Look at your own. That’s right, get in the mirror, turn to the side, and look.

Are the front and back of your thighs the same proportion?
Is one thigh bigger than the other?
Are your quads bigger than your hamstrings?
Are the inner thighs large or small?
Is it difficult to put your heel to your butt?
Is it easy or difficult to bend forward?
Are the muscles heavily padded with fatty tissue?
Are they “too big” compared to the rest of the body? Or are they much smaller than the rest of the body?
Can you rotate your pelvis, roll your pelvis forward or arch it towards your back?

Stop right there! Don’t go freaking out! And don’t start judging yourself. Embrace those thighs, cottage cheese, flabbiness, muscular and all and appreciate the work they do for you to get you from point A to point B throughout your day without you even thinking about it.

The pure strength of the thigh provides amazing support even on an emotional/psychological level. Without that strength, the entire body/mind is affected with feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness, fear, despair, resentment and inability. Imagine that, storing frustration and resentment in your thighs. These feelings of inadequacy grew in childhood, when the false message was received that I’m not good enough or sufficient just the way I am. Resistance is another blockage that can also be found in the thighs. Regarding the body/mind, it shows up in the form of doubt.

During this class when we were learning these things, our philosophy was “Healer, Heal Thyself,” and boy did we do the work! We used Tai Chi to help remove some of these blockages in our bodies and minds. There’s this stance called Horse Stance that helps to burn through the resistance and blockages to open up the channel of your thighs.

horse stance

My instructor helped with this visual:

“Imagine a string of pearls. See this string of pearls moving fluidly, like a snake. If there is a knot in the string, the pearls do not move as they should. And you can see where the flow is blocked.”

Our body is the same way. I’ll go into detail about other body parts in future articles, but let’s stay focused.

Initially, you may not be able to get as wide as the image above, but what I want you to remember is to tilt your pelvis and pay attention to the position of your feet. Standing a little wider than shoulder length apart, roll your pelvis under. Imagine a string in front of you that’s tied to your pubic area. You pull that string straight up towards your head, lifting the front of your pubic bone and turning your tailbone under. From a side view, your back should be almost flat, except for those of us who are heavenly endowed with voluptuous curves. That ass ain’t going no where boo, lol. But you should still be able to tuck your pelvis under you. Now, rotate your feet so that the OUTSIDES of your feet are parallel. Sorta like you’re pigeon-toed. If you have tiled floors somewhere, they’ll come in handy. Align the outsides of your feet with the lines in the tiles. This will feel very awkward at first and your shens may not like you at all, but trust me this works. You may not think so now, but this stance will get you sweating profusely. It is designed to move your Chi. When you breathe, breathe deeply into your lower belly, your Dan Tien. This is where it’s Ok to let your belly out. You actually WANT to see the lower belly bulge out with each deep inhale. I guarantee this stance for just five minutes will move something in you. If you’re housing frustration in those thighs, oh it’s gonna surface. Believe that. You may want to curse someone out. You may even curse out an imaginary enemy in the room, but let the expletives fly! If you’re harboring resentment, you may even begin to cry. Let it flow. Revisit this exercise when you can. Make it part of your routine and lengthen the time you stay in horse stance as you grow.

I can’t wait to hear about your experiences with this exercise for those who try it out. Thanks Body Mind College for the life lessons and information you awarded me. I’m forever grateful!

Come on over to Facebook and share your experience with the rest of us. http://www.facebook.com/#!/CanILiveLovely

Happy healing!

Jamie Bonfiglio

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Tags: body mind psychology, dan tien, hamstrings, inadequacy, quads, resentment, resistance, subconscious mind, tai chi, thighs

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Feb 02

Adrenal Fatigue: How to overcome this draining disorder

Categories:

Exercise, women's health

by Jamie Bonfiglio

Hi family and friends,

I want you to take a look at something…

adrenalglands

Many of you may recognize the kidneys in this pic, but do you see the small, yellow, fatty looking glands atop the kidneys? Now I’ve never seen them in real life so I don’t know if they’re yellow, BUT I can share a little info about them and their importance. These are our adrenal glands. Well…maybe not ours, but at least they’re a representation of such. Anyhoo, have you ever heard of the “fight or flight” response? No you say? Well surely you’ve heard of adrenaline, yes? Well let’s get to know the biophysical happenings of these sayings. The adrenal glands are part of the response to stress. Adrenaline is that hormone released in stressful situations. It gets your blood pumping, your heart racing, and your body ready to pounce into action in response to stress. I must be honest though loved ones…when it comes to our DNA and our physiological selves, we haven’t evolved much further than our caveman counterparts. Wait you Darwinists out there! Hear me out! Human speech and vocabulary is in its baby stages on the grander scheme of things when it comes to our DNA. Our DNA doesn’t know the difference between a lion or bear threatening our life and the feeling we get when we want to strangle our boss’s throat. Stress is stress. Point blank, period. (Coincidentally, our poor DNA also doesn’t know that women and men have developed beyond grunts and hand/body gestures in communicating our needs so our relationships reap the “benefits” of speaking completely different languages when it comes to love. But, I digress. Can I just point out the fact that women MUST share ALL the details of the story while men are simply looking for the point, problem or resolution to said problem? Let’s carry on. I’ll save that for another post.)

So I felt like writing about this topic after dealing with bouts of fatigue myself. Imagine your body under a constant state of stress. And let’s face it. Who isn’t under some constant state of stress? I don’t watch much TV, ESPECIALLY the News, but think about how much fear, harm, and danger is pumped into your psyche on a daily basis. If it’s not some economical fear with the stock markets or investment industry, then it’s some story of school shootings that makes you squeeze your little ones tightly as if you can’t let them out of your sight. Right now I want you to take a deep breathe. Three of them actually. In through your nose out through your mouth. Feel your chest AND abdomen expand wth your inhale and recite your mantra of choice to yourself silently.

“It is safe to live easily and pleasurably.”

“Life supports me to live a fulfilled, joyful life.”

“It is perfectly OK for me to take risks that I feel are right for me because [the Universe] supports my decision to better myself.”

Exhale completely and envision worry, doubt, and fear leaving with the out breathe. Put a color to it if you like. Apply the color that feels negative to you and literally see that color leaving with those emotions and thoughts.

Ok, let’s get back to it….

The adrenals are so overworked in our 21st century lifelstyle, especially for women. A wise teacher of mine told me that hard work is not the woman’s way (also another post). Wait you feminists out there! You hear me out too! Women are powerful beyond measure. I mean we birth humanity for crying out loud! But, we BIRTH for a reason. We bring forth what is needed to accomplish what is needed. So while many women have found themselves competing in arenas that are driven by what we deem is masculine, many of us have found ourselves over masculinized. Yes, we all are both masculine and feminine, but your body doesn’t lie….

Symptoms of adrenal fatigue:

Sleep disturbances: Cortisol production follows a curve from highest levels around 8am, dropping throughout the day until the lowest levels are reached about 11pm. In early stages of adrenal fatigue the body compensates with high night time cortisol. In this case the person finds it difficult to relax from the stress of the day and has trouble going to sleep. High night-time cortisol results in reduced REM sleep which is neither restful nor restorative. This can lead to depression and reduced energy levels the next day. In later stages of adrenal fatigue, the body may produce adrenaline (“fight or flight” hormone) in an attempt to compensate for low cortisol. This too will result in insomnia.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/024985_cortisol_blood_fatigue.html#ixzz2JjrjNLJp
Hemmorhoids
Varicose Veins
Recurrent infections, specifically respiratory
Non-rejuvenating sleep
Low libido
Scattered thoughts
Caffeine dependence
Increased cravings for salty or sweet foods

Ok, I know that some of these symptoms sound like they could be tens of other things. But I challenge you to realize the body is a very precise machine. It does whatever it takes to reach homeostasis, the point when everything is balanced, despite the toxic and harmful things we do to it. The release of cortisol, the stress hormone, can wreak havoc on other systems, not to mention the abdominal weight gain. And when you think about it, if you’re feeling any of these symptoms, can you truly rule out the possibilty that your body is tired of reacting to stress? I mean even afer taking vitamins, do you feel like crawling into bad and covering your head with the covers and sleeping the day away?

Here’s what I would do to overcome adrenal fatigue:

Breathing techniques: deep breathing practices increase your oxygen intake, which in turn increases your energy as your cells have more oxygen to perform duties.

Exercise: you know the saying, “it takes money to make money”? Well the same holds true for energy. It takes energy to make energy. Working out and exercising actually gives you more energy and gives you more restful sleep.

Yoga: the combination of exercise and breathing all in one.

Meditation: clear your mind and relieve some of that stress. Realize who you are and how you are creating the life that unfolds everyday.

I hope this info has opened your eyes to some things and possibly made you want to pay closer attention to your body and its ways of speaking to you. Nurture your adrenal glands. Don’t overwork them.

And I leave you with OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMM…..