The Benefits Of Soaking Nuts Before Eating Them

by Minx life

Nuts are rich in unsaturated fats, heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids, fiber and a slew of vitamins and minerals. Which is why they come highly recommended as an addition to a balanced diet. Turns out, soaking nuts can enhance their benefits for you. The phytic acid and tannins in the skin make nuts harder to digest and inhibit the absorption of nutrients in your food. Soaking and removing the peel can do away with these. Plus, they're less likely to irritate a sensitive stomach and are cleaner as well this way!

They are a nutrient -dense snack and perfect for when the munchies strike! Satisfying but not sinful, they come highly recommended by the American Heart Association as part of a healthy diet. Although it's easiest to have these crunchy nuggets straight from the bag, have you wondered if you should be soaking or peeling certain nuts first? In some parts of the world like Asia, almonds, for instance, are soaked overnight and peeled the next morning before consuming. So is there some science behind this ritual and should you consider soaking nuts before having them?

What Happens When You Soak Nuts

When you soak nuts, it becomes easier to peel off their skin. That's not all, though. There are also certain changes to the nut itself when you soak it. While some nutrients are lost along with the skin, you may find that positive effects of soaking more than make up on other fronts.

• Washes away dust and other contamination

• Removes tannins and inhibit digestion

• Lowers physic acid content

• Break down and soften to digest easily

• Easy to peel away the skin

Bottom line, if you are looking to improve overall gut health, give soaking a try!

DIY EGG WHITE AND HONEY MASK

by Minx life

We all know how expensive it can be to get facials on a regular basis so why not give yourself one at home. This quick and easy mask will help shrink your pores, tighten skin and leave your skin glowing. Who doesn't want that? All you need to do is mix one egg white and a tsp. of honey together. The best way to apply the mixture is with a cotton ball and make sure to get your neck and decollete. Leave it on for 15 minutes or until it's completely dried and rinse of with warm water. Apply moisturizer after and your skin will be looking radiant! Enjoy

Is Dry brushing good for your skin and health?

by Minx life

Scan almost any spa menu, and you'll likely find an offering that mentions dry brushing. The practice-which involves scrubbing down your dry skin with a scratchy brush-sounds far from pampering, if not a bit austere. But spa pros and enthusiasts alike swear by it and sing its praises for supposedly doing everything from exfoliating to reducing cellulite. Sounds a bit too good to be true, so here are the facts.

The exfoliation part is easy to understand. "Gentle dry brushing will slough off dead, dry skin, improving its appearance and allowing it to hydrate more efficiently when moisturizer is applied afterward.

As for detoxifying, dry brushing is similar to massage. "The light pressure against your skin and the direction in which you brush helps move lymph fluid into the lymph nodes so this waste can then be eliminated. Your body naturally does this, but dry brushing speeds up the process and at the same time boosts circulation, delivering oxygenated blood to the skin and other organs, which help do their job better.

Because dry brushing helps eliminate toxins, many pros claim it can smooth those unsightly lumps and bumps for good. This procedure helps remove "stagnant toxins" that break down connective tissue, leading to cellulite.

But there's no conclusive scientific evidence that dry brushing can permanently reduce cottage cheese thighs, which are caused by a combination of fat and connective tissue. It's believed that the reduction is more of a temporary skin plumping and swelling. Bottom line, Temporary or not, we'll take fewer derriere dimples any day.

First you need a proper brush, which you can purchase at most health food stores. Look for bristles-typically cactus-or vegetable-derived-or else the process won't work. A long handle is also handy to help you access hard to reach areas such as your back.

Because dry brushing energizes and stimulates the body, most pros suggest doing it in the morning before your shower, but you can do it any time of the day you prefer.. Using long , upward strokes, start brushing your skin at your feet and work your way up your legs one at a time. Then move up your mid-section(front and back) and across your chest. Finish by brushing up your arms toward your armpits.

Now it's shower time, with an added bonus : "You've just opened your pores, so any of your body treatments you apply in the shower and afterward will penetrate better.

Your skin should feel softer and smoother after just one session. Some people even say that the detox and circulatory boost helps with digestive issues and skin problems such as acne; others claim to feel more energized, most likely a result of the increased blood flow.

Give a try!

Vitamin C for glowy skin and beautiful hair

by Minx life

You may already know about all the amazing things vitamin C can do for your system. It helps to promote healthy bones and teeth, it boosts overall immunity, and it has even been shown to help lower blood pressure. But did you know how many amazing things it can do for the way you look? 

Here are 10 ways that vitamin C helps benefit your skin and hair health.

Collagen Boost

Collagen is the main structural protein found in your skin and connective tissue. In fact, 70% of all protein found in your skin is collagen. It's responsible for the elasticity of your skin, and keeps everything looking young and fresh.

How do we get collagen? By taking in Vitamin C! Your body needs vitamin C to produce collagen, and you need collagen for healthy skin.

Increased Sun Protection

Vitamin C is an antioxidant , which your body uses to fight off harmful free radicals. Many of these are produced when ultraviolet radiation from the sun comes into contact with your body, and a lack of vitamin C can leave you with a reduced ability to fight them off naturally.

Now, don't go skipping your sunscreen, but studies do show that people who get enough vitamin C have less overall sun damage to their skin.

Improved Texture

As well as being integral to skin structure, collagen is also important for the structure of your blood vessels-and it all comes down to vitamin C. Efficient blood flow to your skin's surface can prevent a rough texture and appearance. In fact, creams containing vitamin C are marketed specifically to help smooth out rough skin.

Less Discoloration

Vitamin C can help prevent the DNA in your skin from reacting with sunlight and causing discoloration or even precancerous cells.

Faster Wound Healing

Your body uses vitamin C to help heal injuries to your skin. Collagen helps not only to close wounds, but also to create scar tissue that helps protect the site. Slow wound healing can be a sign of vitamin c deficiency.

Faster Hair Growth

Free radicals can damage your hair making it brittle and more prone to split ends. As mentioned above, the antioxidant properties of vitamin c help to reduce free radicals, and will protect your hair as well as your skin. Your hair will be stronger and grow quicker.

Fewer Grays

Vitamin C has been shown to help hair retain its natural color for longer, meaning fewer grays.

Prevents Hair Loss

An underperforming adrenal gland can lead to hair loss, and one of the main ways to help fight adrenal gland fatigue is by supplementing with vitamin c. This can help reverse the hormonal processes that cause hair loss.

Protects Against Dandruff

You may have germs living on your scalp that encourage the skin problems that lead to dandruff. Vitamin c helps to fight these germs off.

Thicker, Healthier Hair

Taken altogether, the increased blood flow, the decrease in bacteria, and the antioxidants all work in combination to help you grow thicker, healthier hair.

So be sure to eat your citrus and your dark greens. The best way to get vitamin C is through a healthy diet.

IS APPLE CIDER VINEGAR REALLY THAT GOOD FOR YOU? YES!

by Minx life

Unless you've been living under a rock,chances are you've heard about the much touted health benefits of vinegar-in particular, apple cider vinegar. The ancient condiment- the earliest known use of vinegar dates back more than 10,000 years and has been used as both food and medicine-is enjoying a real resurgence lately.

So we did some digging and found some valid, science-backed benefits to vinegar that are worth sharing. In fact, research shows that vinegars contain antioxidants, which slow premature aging and reduce the risk of cancer, for example.

Here are a few more ways vinegar can give your health a boost:

Vinegar improves blood sugar levels. Drinking apple cider vinegar before a high -carbohydrate meal improves insulin sensitivity-slowing the rate of blood sugar levels rising-in people who are insulin resistant( a pre diabetes condition) or have type 2 diabetes, according to a 2004 study.

It kills bacteria. Vinegar is thought to have antibacterial properties that can help fight the infection behind a sore throat. The acidity decreases the pH of tissue, which helps prevent bacteria from growing on the surface. In addition, a 2014 study even found that vinegar's ingredient , acetic acid, which gives vinegar its tart flavor and strong odor, acts as a non toxic disinfectant against tuberculosis bacteria.

Vinegar may help reduce the risk of cancer. Vinegars are a rich source of polyphenols, compounds synthesized by plants to fight oxidative stress. According to 2006 research, consuming polyphenols enhances antioxidant protection and reduces cancer risk.

We like to start our morning with warm water, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar,lemon, ginger and turmeric but you can also use it in your favorite salad dressings or put it in your smoothies. Cheers!

What are the best antioxidants for your skin?

by Minx life

 

From red wine, berries, green tea and pomegranates, the variety of antioxidants that can be eaten,drunk or extracted and used in skincare is mind boggling. They are good for health and for skin because they help protect against free radicals, which, in a famous example, do the same thing to us that they do to a sliced apple. They oxidize it, turning it brown, and sending it quickly to..its eventual disintegration, otherwise known as ripe old age.

The sliced apple example has always resonated with people, but for some reason, until now, nobody was like, so what is it that keeps an apple from turning brown? Apple peels! Apple peels not only keep apples from turning brown, they keep them fresh and young looking for longer than practically any other fruit.

The research on whole apple peels' antioxidant power shows it's full of phenolic compounds, potent antioxidants, polyphenols, and more, all of which help to fight free radicals and keep us healthy.

Bottom line.. Eat apples for radiant skin!