During my second pregnancy, I made the decision to approach the birth positively and with confidence, which wasn’t easy having had a bad experience the first time.  I decided to try Hypnobirthing as I had heard many good things about it.  I liked the fact that it empowers the woman to believe in her body and teaches relaxation techniques to promote a calm, easy birth.  It was during one of our hypnobirthing classes that placenta encapsulation was first mentioned.  One of our hypnobirthing teachers, Emily Street, had had her placenta made into capsules after the birth of her fourth child a few months previously.

She seemed to radiate health, vitality and energy, despite her clearly very busy life and was convinced that it was the consumption of her placenta capsules that had made the difference.  Naturally, my husband & I were interested to find out more and I was more than willing to have my placenta encapsulated to enjoy the many reported benefits.  These include quicker restoration of iron levels after birth, bringing your milk on quicker, lesser post birth bleeding & reduced likelihood of postnatal depression and quicker natural contraction of the uterus.

I was directed to the IPEN website, which stands for Independent Placenta Encapsulation Network.  Here you can find a trained IPEN specialist in your local area and contact them directly through email to arrange to use their services.  I simply emailed the local IPEN specialist and made arrangements for her to make my placenta into capsules.  I was planning a home birth and was told I would need a sterile container to put the placenta into immediately after it had been delivered and checked.  As it happened, I gave birth in hospital and took a sterile container and cool bag with ice packs with me.  This is because most hospitals are unable to provide adequate storage facilities for the placenta.

Placenta Encapsulation Plus Placenta Smoothie

My husband contacted our IPEN specialist whilst I was in labour to give her notice that she would need to collect the placenta later that day, it is usually collected within 12 hours of birth.  He let her know once our son had been born and she made her way to our house.  I had decided that as well as having the placenta encapsulation, I would also try the raw placenta smoothie!  This is made by taking a small piece of raw placenta and blending it with lots of organic berries to make a delicious smoothie.  My husband brought the smoothie to me in the hospital a few hours after our son was born, the specialist having made it at our house using a brand new disposable blender.

I can honestly say it was delicious and tasted only of fresh berries.  I had lost quite a large quantity of blood during the birth and knew that this was a way of replenishing the lost iron quickly.  It is easily absorbed by the body as it recognises the iron as being natural, rather than the artificial iron tablets which are routinely prescribed if women have lost significant amounts of blood.

Placenta Encapsulation Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVwN6x1nbg8

Placenta Encapsulation Conclusion

I had another ‘dose’ of placenta smoothie the following day and the IPEN specialist was already working to make the remainder of the placenta into capsules.  These were posted to me and received about 3 days after the birth.  I began to take them 3 times a day initially and would instantly feel calmer and more in control.  I did not feel that I was at the mercy of my hormones, as I had done when I had my first son.  The placenta capsules definitely make you feel like you have more energy (even when you are very sleep deprived), which is a fantastic benefit!

I would certainly recommend placenta encapsulation to anyone who is open-minded enough to try it!  After a wonderfully euphoric hypnobirthing experience with our second son, the benefits I have experienced from placenta encapsulation were really the icing on the cake!

We hope you have enjoyed reading about our placenta encapsulation experience and we would greatly appreciate if you could leave a comment below and share and like on Facebook.

In this post we are going to answer the question “does hypnobirthing work” by documenting our own recent personal experience of hypnobirthing.  When we were expecting our second child we began to research hypnobirthing as an alternative to conventional birth practices.  We read many positive testimonials recommending the benefits of a calm and natural birth and we were determined to have a better birth experience than that of our first son.

Our first sons birth was very quick which limited our options as to the type of birth we had hoped for.  We felt that we were not in control and found the whole experience quite frightening and traumatic, resulting in post natal depression which lasted for many months.

We began to look at hypnobirthing, believing it to offer a real alternative birth choice, by teaching specific techniques to keep relaxed, calm and in control no matter path labour may take.  We came across two midwives locally called Emily Street and Jane Ingleby who run private hypnobirthing classes in the North West region of the UK.  We registered for a course of 4 classes at our home.  These classes covered the physiology of labour, how to eliminate fear and taught breathing techniques to use during different stages of labour.

We had a number of different scripts which we used whilst listening to relaxing music to help get into a state of deep relaxation.  We practised these regularly, along with the breathing techniques in preparation for the birth.  Whilst the course and its contents were very enjoyable, there were times when we questioned does hypnobirthing work for everybody.  We decided the real test would be the birth itself.

Does Hypnobirthing Work? How To Achieve A Hypnobirth

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

Does Hypnobirthing Work? Here Is Our Story

Here Madeline recounts the story of the birth in her own words.  Nine days prior to the baby’s due date, I awoke feeling tired and with the sense that something was changing.  Later that same day I began to experience some mild tightenings which I largely ignored as I believed them to be braxton hicks.  The tightenings continued into the evening and through the night, although they did not stop me from getting a full nights sleep (a good job as it was to be my last full nights sleep for some time!).

The following morning I awoke conscious that I was still getting tightening sensations fairly regularly.  They were quite strong and muscular but not painful.  As they did not seem to be getting either stronger or closer together, I did not believe that I was in labour.  When I went to the toilet, I had had a show, so decided to ring the hospital for advice.  They advised me to go along just to be checked.  We swiftly arranged for our older son to be looked after by a friend and made our way to the hospital.

Once at the hospital, I continued to feel calm and relaxed as I still did not believe that I was in labour, so I was not worrying about what may lay ahead.  At 10am the midwife came to examine me and was surprised to find that I was in established labour and about 6-7cms dilated.  She could not quite believe it as I was calm and chatting away to her!  We requested the pool as we were really hoping for a water birth and fortunately it was available and soon was filling up and I could not wait to get in!

I spent 2 hours relaxing in the pool.  The surges (hynobirthing term for contractions) were coming around once every 8-10 minutes and I found it easy to breath through them using the techniques that I had learnt.  The water was soothing and tranquil, at times it felt too easy and I almost felt like I was cheating!  I told myself this must be what hypnobirthing is all about, because I was able to stay relaxed and calm, my body could just do what it needed to birth our baby in the best way possible.

At around 1.15pm I got out of the pool to be examined again and was pleased to find that I had progressed to 8cm, although this was slower progress than I had anticipated.  The midwife suggested that we break my waters as she thought that this would help things to progress a little quicker.  We decided to go ahead and she broke my waters at around 1.30pm.  Within 5 minutes I had 3 powerful surges, I managed to breath through them, but was very keen to get back into the water as soon as possible.

At this point I requested gas and air and I found it really helpful to keep me focused when the surges were coming closer together.  I started to feel the baby’s head descend and I had the urge to push.  There was a brief moment of deja vu where I recalled this sensation from my first birth and felt a little frightened.  However, I used the breathing techniques and light touch massage from my husband to stay calm and in control of the situation.  I was able to breath the baby down and just as I felt that the pressure was too intense he popped out and into the water.  I looked down and saw our baby floating and then my husband Tristan lifted him out and passed him to me.

As I cradled our newborn son in my arms, I felt the greatest sense of euphoria and overwhelming pride in myself and my body.  I could not stop smiling and was amazed by what we had just achieved.  Our beautiful son Hugo was born on 20th April 2013 at 2.20pm weighing 7lb 2oz.  Hugo is an extremely calm and contented baby, helped we are sure by his gentle transition into the world.

Does Hypnobirthing Work? Our Thoughts

We have had two vastly different birth experiences and we are absolutely convinced that hypnobirthing is what made the main difference second time around.  We felt able to deal with any situation that may have arisen and coped well with the fact that we did not achieve our planned water birth at home.

We have nothing but positive memories of the day and feel that everything fell into place perfectly.  We will happily recommend hypnobirthing to everyone as it has had such a powerful influence on our lives.

If you are pregnant at the moment and are looking to achieve a more positive and natural birth experience and you live anywhere in the North West region of the UK, then we would strongly recommend that you visit hypnobirthbymidwives.co.uk.  Speak to Emily Street and Jane Ingleby.  These are honestly two of the most passionate and inspirational people that we have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

We hope you have enjoyed our story and we would greatly appreciate if you could leave a comment below and share and like on Facebook.

Hopefully in our own words we have now answered the popular question of “Does Hypnobirthing Work.”

In this post we show a hypnobirthing video from a lady called Susy from the UK and we also show another hypnobirthing video from a lady called Claire in New Zealand.  Towards the end of the post we show a hypnobirthing video by Katharine Graves.

Hypnobirthing Video 1

This is Susy’s second HypnoBirth, but first homebirth.  She filmed the birth as she wanted to show women that birth can be calm, relaxed and enjoyable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNhVLKU6zF8

HypnoBirthing Video 2

This is Claire’s second water birth and first Hypnobirth. It was totally drug-free, she just went within her body and used breathing, relaxation and visualisation techniques to give birth to her baby.  Reference AucklandHypnoBirthing.co.nz.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRUxqyzk9EE

Hypnobirthing Video 3

Katharine Graves of the Hypnobirthing Centre explains managing pain through relaxation and powerful breathing techniques that will help your body to work the way it is meant to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ4giiUXlH8

If you are intrigued by the concept of hypnobirthing and would like to understand exactly what hypnobirthing is all about, then click here to see our post called “What Is Hypnobirthing?”

If you have enjoyed this post, we would greatly appreciate if you could leave a comment below and share and like on Facebook.

A good hypnobirthing video can speak 1000 words, so we hope you have found this collection of hypnobirthing videos helpful.

Those searching for a calm, confident and natural approach to birth will at some point have come across hypnobirthing and ask themselves the question what is hypnobirthing.  Hypnobirthing is a series of simple but effective techniques, which empower a couple to experience a calm and natural birth.  Women are taught how to get into a state of deep relaxation through self hypnosis and are also trained to use specific types of breathing during different stages of labour.  The birth partner has an important role to play, both in helping the mother to practice these techniques, and during labour in assisting her to use the strategies learnt to greatest effect.  The central principle of hypnobirthing is to teach the mother to relax and to believe that her body is perfectly designed to give birth.

What Is Hypnobirthing? – Background To Hypnobirthing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnHm4i-RpBk

Many women approach their labour with fear and trepidation because of the negativity surrounding birth and the general assumption that it must involve excruciating pain for the mother.  The problem here is that when we are frightened, our bodies go into the primitive fight or flight response and blood is directed away from vital organs to arms and legs.  In labour, this means that blood is directed away from the uterus, making it dilate less effectively and, in some cases, slowing labour down.

Another side effect of fear in labour is that it causes the woman to tense up making her contractions more painful and less effective.  The body has natural painkillers, which are released during labour and are said to be stronger than morphine, but they are only released if the woman is relaxed and calm.  If the woman is frightened then instead she releases adrenaline and other stress hormones, which can be disruptive to the progression of labour.

Hypnobirthing teaches the woman that birth is a natural process and to trust her body and her own instincts.  Many women who have learnt hypnobirthing techniques report needing little or no pain relief during labour and giving birth to calm and alert babies.  Generally, mothers who are practising hypnobirthing will require less medical intervention, as they are able to relax and let their body birth their baby naturally.  However, if medical intervention is required, then hypnobirthing mothers have reported feeling much more able to deal with the situation, using the techniques they have learnt to relax and control their breathing.

Hypnobirthing is not just beneficial for the parents to be in removing the fear typically associated with labour and birth but it also allows for a tranquil and gentle arrival for the baby.  This results in babies who are calm and contented and they often feed and sleep extremely well.

The final point to make is that hypnobirthing techniques allow the mother and her partner to stay in control of their labour and birth.  They are empowered to make informed decisions about their care and this, in itself, will contribute to a positive experience.

If you would like to know more about hypnobirthing or book on a course locally then please visit one of the following websites:

If you live anywhere in the North West region of the UK, from our own personal positive experience we would strongly recommend that you visit hypnobirthbymidwives.co.uk.  Speak to Emily Street and Jane Ingleby.  These are honestly two of the most passionate and inspirational people that we have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

If you are in any other part of the UK then visit hypnobirthingassociation.com

If you have enjoyed this post, we would greatly appreciate if you could leave a comment below and share and like on Facebook.

Hopefully we have now answered the increasingly popular question of what is hypnobirthing and shown you a real alternative to conventional birthing practices.

Most of us have, at some point in our lives, been affected by acne.  It is estimated that over 80% of people aged between 11 and 30 will have acne, although for some it can strike at an even later age.  There are thousands of treatments out there for acne, after all it is big business, as people will pay significant sums of money for a product that promises to erase their nemesis once and for all!

So where does coconut oil for acne fit in to this discussion?  Extra virgin coconut oil is a very pure product and has been used successfully by many to cure their acne and improve the overall appearance of the skin.  The first thing to remember is that it is a naturally derived oil, and unlike many of the chemical treatments available, it will not dry out or further damage the skin.

6 Benefits of Coconut Oil for Acne

1.    Contains powerful anti-microbial ingredients – Coconut oil is known to contain Capric Acid and Lauric Acid.  These acids have very high anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.  When coconut oil is applied to the skin, these acids help to replace the protective layer on the skin and fight spot-causing bacteria.

2.    Rich source of Vitamin E – Using coconut oil for acne is beneficial because it contains potent Vitamin E, which is known as an effective skin healer.  Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which means that it neutralises damage from free radicals, which can cause premature ageing and wrinkles.  Unfortunately the body cannot produce this important nutrient so we need to get vitamin E through our diet.  Eating foods rich in Vitamin E such as avocadoes, sweet potatoes and almonds can help.

3.    Helps to rid skin of impurities – When you use coconut oil for acne, it penetrates the skin easily and assists in the removal of toxins and impurities.  This is really crucial in the successful treatment of acne, as toxins can block the pores and cause acne.

4.    Easily absorbed and moisturising – Using coconut oil for acne is not only valuable as a form of treatment but it is also generally very good for the skin.  Coconut oil is soothing on the skin, it is absorbed easily and helps to calm any redness or inflammation.  It is also an excellent moisturiser, which really helps the skin.  Often, conventional acne treatments dry out the skin too much and cause flakiness, so using coconut oil for acne can help to reverse this and give glowing, healthy skin.

5.    Can be eaten as part of a healthy diet – This point proves just how versatile this oil is.  It is a food substance, which means that you can drink it in smoothies, use it as the base oil for a stir-fry and bake with it to make muffins, for example.  Ingesting coconut oil, as well as using it topically, will mean that the recipient will benefit in different ways from this remarkable ingredient.

6.    Naturally derived, contains no chemicals or preservatives – Using coconut oil for acne not only has the above benefits, but more importantly, it is a natural product and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals or preservatives.  Often, conventional acne treatments are full of chemicals such as benzoyl peroxide, which can actually be damaging to the skin and leave it overly dry.  Extra virgin coconut oil is the best oil to use.

This is our best recommendation and you can buy it directly from Amazon just by clicking on the image below.

[easyazon-image align="none" asin="B001EO5Q64" locale="us" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Z%2ByHHBZQL._SL160_.jpg" width="158"]

In summary, using coconut oil for acne can be a really natural yet effective way to heal the skin and get rid of those blemishes for good.

This post is going to explore the world of paraben free products.  There are now several brands, which use alternative preservatives in their skin care and I’ll share with you some of my favourites later on.

Parabens are found in the majority of conventional cosmetic skincare products.  They are used as a preservative to give items a longer shelf life and to prevent mould or bacteria forming.  Parabens are present across the whole spectrum of toiletries including shampoos, moisturisers, shaving gels, toothpaste and make up.  They have been used in skincare products for many years and it is only in recent years that more and more people have come to question their safety and possible side effects.

Paraben free products video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsvhWpES75I

A study of breast cancer tumours found the presence of parabens in every tumour.  It was suggested that there could be a possible link between parabens and certain cancers.  With the breast cancer study, scientists found that the area of breast affected by the tumour was always the part nearest to the underarm.  This led them to speculate that there may be a connection between parabens found in underarm deodorant and breast cancer.  Parabens also simulate oestrogen production.  This hormone is known to be influential in the development of breast cancer.

The truth is that there is nothing yet to scientifically prove a causal link between parabens and breast cancer.  However, the speculation over parabens and their possible harmful side effects has made the public more informed about the skincare products they choose.  People are now searching for alternative paraben free products, keen to avoid any health problems from this now infamous and somewhat controversial ingredient.

Many companies have chosen to remove parabens from their ingredients.  It means that finding paraben free products is much easier for the consumer now than it was a few years ago.

My top 3 favourite Paraben free products:

1.    Green People Fruitful Nights – If you’ve never heard of this company then you’ve been missing out!  A mother wanting to find natural skincare for her young daughter who had severe eczema & allergies formed Green People in 1997.  Today they have over 100 organic products across several ranges.  One of my favourite paraben free products of theirs is Fruitful Nights.  It’s a very light, non-greasy night cream containing lots of skin goodies like rosehip oil and jojoba seed oil.  It is quickly absorbed and leaves skin feeling fresh, moisturized, plump and radiant.

2.    REN Vita Mineral Day Cream – REN base their skincare products around 5 key principles, one of those being ‘Right Ingredient’.  My favourite paraben free products from them include the Vita Mineral Day Cream and the Invisible Pores Detox Mask.  The moisturiser is perfect for every day, it’s light and easily absorbed and makes your skin feel very smooth.  The detox mask is a clay-based mask, which you can use about once a week.  It helps to absorb excess oil, calm inflammation and reduce blemishes.  I find it excellent to balance my combination skin and it is also very gentle.

3.    Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil – All of the Trilogy products that I have used are full of excellent, natural ingredients and deliver real skin benefits.  The whole range of Trilogy skincare contains paraben free products and   their rosehip oil really is a wonder product (see my other post on Benefits of Rosehip Oil for more info).  It comes with a handy dropper so that you can get just the right amount.

There are several more brands offering paraben free products, take a look at Nude, Dr Hauschka and Pai to name just a few.  The debate over the safety of parabens in skincare is set to continue for some time.  In the meantime, prevention is always better than cure so my advice is to select your skincare products wisely, taking an interest in the ingredients, and avoiding parabens at all cost.  There are so many paraben free products now widely available, why take the risk?

Top Tip.  One of the very best places to shop for paraben free products is Lovelula.com.  Worldwide shipping is also available.

I hope you have found this article informative and useful.

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Please feel free to post a comment and tell us about your favourite paraben free products.

The term ‘organic’ refers to the ingredients in a skincare product, such as plant extracts, and means that they have been grown without the use of pesticides and fertilisers. When looking at the question of what is organic skincare, it is interesting to note that there is no legal definition of ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ when it comes to labelling skincare products. In other words, a product labelled as natural could contain over 99% chemical ingredients, which are irritating to the skin and potentially harmful to health.

More and more people are asking what is organic skincare as they become better informed about what goes into conventional toiletries. Ingredients used in organic skincare are grown under strict conditions and certified by regulatory bodies such as The Soil Association. Organic farming doesn’t just produce plants, which are pure and full of natural, regenerative properties for the skin, it’s also better for the environment. Organic farming retains the natural minerals in the soil, which makes the plants more effective, when used in skincare products.

What is Organic Skincare – It does NOT contain any of the following ingredients:

1. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) – This is commonly found in many conventional products such as soap, shampoo & toothpaste as a foaming agent. Once absorbed by the skin, it cannot be broken down by the liver, and so remains in the body. It is renowned as a skin and eye irritant. More worryingly, it can cause hormonal imbalances as it disrupts oestrogen levels, which can cause fertility problems in both men & women. The hormonal imbalances caused by SLS also have the potential to lead to certain cancers.

2. Parabens – These are used as preservatives in most conventional skincare products such as deodorants, face cream and shampoo, to avoid them forming mould or bacteria. However, parabens have been discovered in breast cancer tumours leading scientists to question a causal link between parabens and cancer. Although nothing has been proven, there have been suggestions that parabens found in deodorant lead to an increased risk of breast cancer. This may be because they also mimic oestrogen production, leading to hormonal imbalances.

3. Petrochemicals – The majority of conventional skincare products contain ingredients that are by-products of the distillation of petrol from crude oil. These may go by the name of petrolatum, mineral oil and paraffin. Mineral oil, for example, sits on the surface of the skin and prevents toxins being excreted through the skin naturally. Petrolatum contains carcinogens and forms a barrier on the surface of the skin, preventing it from taking in oxygen.

4. Alcohol – This is used as a preservative but it is very harsh and irritating to the skin. It can dry it out and also cause it to produce excess oil, leading to acne.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdt7Z-12FRY

When considering the question of what is organic skincare, it is worth knowing the following facts. Skin is the body’s largest organ and it is estimated that around 60% of a substance is absorbed through the skin. The number of people suffering from skin sensitivity and allergies is 1 in 4 and this is not surprising considering that over 100,000 tonnes of synthetic chemicals are used in ‘natural’ products every year.  The key problem with using conventional skincare products that contain the above listed chemical ingredients is that the body cannot break them down and so they accumulate and can cause allergies and immune disorders.

The ingredients used in organic skincare are good for skin health as they come from a variety of natural sources.  Organic skincare can include extracts from herbs, flowers, fruits, plants and oils.  Many of these ingredients have therapeutic and restorative qualities for the skin, such as improving tone and reducing blemishes and scarring.

There are now many companies offering reasonably priced organic skincare products as people make informed choices, Lovelula.com is one of our favourites.

If you have enjoyed this post, please comment and share. Thank you.

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Hopefully, we have now answered what is organic skincare and you’ll agree that it’s not a difficult choice from now on when choosing your skincare products.

The benefits of rosehip oil have been recognised by the Inca population for hundreds, maybe thousands of years.  The majority of rosehip oil is made using rosehips grown in the Chilean Andes, a region whose altitude and clean air produces the best quality rosehips.  Rosehip oil comes from the seeds of a type of rose known as rosa mosqueta.  The oil is extracted from the ‘hip’ of the rose, generally using a cold pressed method, which divides the hips and seeds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMK1YN0BZXo

The benefits of rosehip oil are due to its amazing collection of ingredients, all of which have powerful properties to help regenerate and brighten skin.  In fact, it is one of the most multifaceted natural oils as it contains over 500 natural ingredients.  Some of the most well known ingredients are natural vitamin A (also known as Retinol or Transretinoic acid).  This is very effective to help avoid premature ageing as a result of excessive sun exposure.

It also contains lycopene and beta-carotene, both of which are potent antioxidants and protect against damage from free radicals and skin ageing.  One of the reasons that rosehip oil is so beneficial to skin is that it is rich in fatty acids including omega 3, 6 and 9.  These are fundamental to ensure healthy skin but the body is unable to produce them.

10 Key Benefits Of Rosehip Oil:

1. Helps to prevent or improve fine lines & wrinkles: due to its high fatty acid and antioxidant content, rosehip oil works wonders in improving the condition of the skin, especially skin that has been exposed to excessive sunlight.
2. Effective moisturiser for dry skin: it is very helpful when used on any dry skin condition such as eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis.  The oil penetrates into the deepest layers of the skin to lock in moisture.
3. Proven to reduce & improve scars: due to the complex mixture of ingredients and its ability to regenerate skin cells producing more collagen, rosehip oil can make a dramatic improvement to scar tissue, after just a few weeks of use.
4. Can also help burns: a scientific study found that rosehip oil was extremely effective in reducing redness and helped to improve colour and  tone.
5. Can reverse effects of photo ageing: a study of the benefits of rosehip oil was conducted on women who had spent considerable time in the sun and had various signs of photo ageing such as hyper-pigmentation and sun spots. They applied rosehip oil daily for four months and improvements were noted as early as week 3.  By the end of the study, most of the sun spots had vanished, their wrinkles were smoothed out and their skin was glowing.
6. Helps to prevent/reduce stretch marks:  rosehip oil is safe to be used during pregnancy and after birth.  It has the ability to firm the skin and help it to regain its elasticity, as well as fading external scarring.
7. Safe to be used on babies & children: another great benefit of rosehip oil is that it can be used on all the family.  It is safe to be used on the sensitive skin of babies to help with cradle cap and eczema.  It is also excellent to help children’s chickenpox scars fade quickly.
8. Gives skin a natural glow: it helps to restore even skin tone, smoothes out wrinkles and fine lines, diminishes scars and gives skin a healthy glow!
9. Balances out oily/combination skin: rosehip oil is a dry oil, which means that it is quickly and easily absorbed into the skin and can help to prevent breakouts.
10. Evens out skin tone, minimises pores and blemishes:  another wonderful benefits of rosehip oil is that it delivers a better, more even complexion.  It minimises the size of pores and helps blemishes to fade and disappear quickly.

I have been using rosehip oil for about 12 months now and cannot sing its praises highly enough.  It has helped to even out my skin tone and my old acne scars are barely visible now.  It is quickly absorbed and does not feel greasy or oily like many other oils I have tried.  I would recommend it to anyone to improve and perfect your complexion – UK customers click here or on the small image below to get yours.

For worldwide customers – click the link at the bottom of the page to buy directly from Amazon.

[easyazon-block align="center" asin="B002H7HOIK" locale="us"]

If you have enjoyed this post, please comment and share.

The benefits of rosehip oil are quite miraculous, try it for yourself today!

We hear a lot about the way food is produced and how this influences its nutritional value.  I thought it would be useful to explore the real benefits of organic food.  Obviously, making a conscious choice to eat more healthily and to include more fruit, vegetables, good fats and whole grains in your diet is a great start.  However, it is important to be aware that it is not just the food itself but the way in which it has been grown or nurtured that will have the biggest effect on your health and the environment.

Firstly, lets understand what organically produced actually means.  It refers to the specific way in which agricultural products are grown and treated.  Organic crops are grown in soil, which is kept as fertile as possible by practices such as crop rotation and inter cropping to maintain high nutrient levels.  The key difference between organic farming and conventional methods is that organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers (such as those containing petroleum products or sewage).  Organic farming also bans the use of any genetically modified organisms (GMO’s).  A GMO is a plant or an animal that has had their DNA changed.  The health implications for people consuming food containing GMO’s is unknown.

7 key Health Benefits of Organic food:

1.     Not treated with pesticides, herbicides and insecticides – these leave residues that stay on and within the food that we eat.  These are poisonous to the body and have been linked with a number of diseases and health defects.  Instead, organically produced food is treated with natural fertilisers such as manure and weeds and insects are controlled naturally.  This is undoubtedly one of the most important benefits of organic food.

2.    Does not contain any GMO’s – GMO’s are totally man made and bio engineered.  Many genetically modified plants contain their own herbicide, which can cause allergies, GM foods have also been linked to fertility problems and cancers.

3.    No antibiotics or growth hormones used in milk & meat production – enough said!

4.    No artificial colours, flavours, additives or preservatives.

5.    Higher nutrient content of vitamins & minerals – there has been considerable debate on this topic as some studies have concluded that organic food contains no more nutrients than conventionally produced food.  However, these studies did not take into account the effect of pesticides on human health or the environmental impact of organic vs. conventional farming.   Organic food is farmed to extremely strict guidelines and is produced as nature intended.  This means that it tastes fresher and full of flavour and it contains higher levels of nutrients without the damaging chemicals found in conventional farming.  Another example of the many benefits of organic food.

6.    Better standards of animal welfare – organic livestock is farmed as closely to the animal’s natural habitat as possible.  In other words, the animals are given plenty of space outdoors to roam and graze freely.  The grass they feed on is itself nutrient rich and the animals are given time to grow and mature at their own pace.  There is definitely truth in the idea that the meat from an animal that has lived a happy and natural life will taste better than one that has been kept indoors and had a short, stressful life with no care.

7.    Better for the environment – organic farming lessens pollution, uses less water, minimises soil erosion, increases the fertility of the soil and uses less energy.  It maintains good, healthy soil for the future and is also better for the farmers as they are not exposed to dangerous synthetic chemicals in standard pesticides and fertlisers.

The negative impact of pesticides on human health is overwhelming.  Children are particularly susceptible because their bodies and immune systems are still developing.  Pregnant women should also be aware that pesticides can pass across the placenta to their unborn child and in their breastmilk.  Pesticides, once in the body, are difficult to eradicate and they have been linked to a number of health problems.  These include disrupting hormones, which can cause infertility and several different types of cancer.

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I think it is fairly clear that there are numerous benefits of organic food.  These are not only purer methods of production that will help you to keep fit and healthy but farming practices which work in harmony with the environment.  That is important for generations to come.

The books below are among the best we have ever found on organic food  – they really are fascinating and a “must have” for any organic food fan!  Click the image below to buy directly from Amazon.

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We would love to hear your views and experiences about the benefits of organic food – please leave a comment below.

On a fairly regular basis, we hear that people need to drink more water and the associated implication that most of us are dehydrated most of the time.  I thought it would be helpful to answer the inevitable question of how much water should I drink a day? and to dispel some common myths relating to hydration.

In terms of answering the question how much water should I drink a day? – the majority of sources recommend that 2.5 litres a day is the optimum amount of water needed to allow the body to operate properly.  However, there is some misunderstanding about whether this is the total amount of water needed to be consumed.

A diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables (which contain around 97% water) will provide around 1-1.5 litres of water.  The body itself can actually recapture some water from chemical responses within cells.  Although the total fluid intake is quoted to be 2.5 litres for adults, because some of this comes from our food, the actual amount of water necessary to drink is around 1.5 – 2 litres per day.

Two thirds or about 60% of our bodies are made up of water.  It is an essential component for healthy living.  We need the water we consume to replenish water lost through breathing, sweating and urinating.   Water does an important job by removing toxins, transporting nutrients around the body and protecting sensitive tissue.

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When thinking about how much water should I drink a day, it is useful to understand the 9 key benefits of drinking enough water regularly.

1.     Helps to maintain consistent energy levels – because the body is made up of so much water, if we don’t drink enough we will feel tired and lethargic.

2.     Improves concentration – a lack of water can cause reduced energy levels in the brain, so drinking plenty of water results in enhanced focus and concentration.

3.     Helps to fight infection by flushing out toxins – it also helps to prevent against urine infections and can rid the body of kidney stones.

4.     Helps IBS – it can reduce the symptoms of IBS and constipation by making you more regular.

5.     Helps you to get more from your exercise – obviously if you are doing a strenuous workout then you will need to drink plenty of water to replace fluids lost through exertion and sweating.  If you drink whilst exercising, your body will work harder and you will gain more from the session.

6.     Can help those wanting to shed weight – water can reduce appetite, it also contains no calories and no sugars/additives etc and is incredibly good for you.

7.     Reduces headaches – this can often be a sign of dehydration, sometimes coupled with dizzy sensations.  Drinking water will help to ease headaches.

8.     Improves skin tone – models are often seen clutching their water bottles for this very reason.  Water helps to clear the skin of any impurities, as well as removing toxins from the body that can affect the skin.

9.     Helps your heart – the blood is made up of over 80% water.  If we don’t drink enough water, it makes the blood thicker and the heart has to work harder to pump it around the body.  A study found that people who drank more than 5 glasses of water a day cut their risk of a heart attack by around 40%.
Other things to consider when thinking about how much water should I drink a day?

It is crucial to spread out your water consumption throughout the day.  The most health benefits are associated with drinking plain water, however, the water contained in tea and coffee and other soft drinks will still count towards the daily total.  It had often been thought that tea and coffee were diuretics, which means that they urged the body to dispense with fluid.  That is now known to be untrue.  Large quantities of caffeine are not recommended as it can reduce mineral absorption from food.  If you choose to drink decaffeinated tea & coffee (Red Bush or Rooibos Tea which is naturally caffeine free) then you can drink as much as you like.

Choose what you drink carefully.  Sometimes tap water is better than some bottled waters, which can contain excess salt.  Squash can contain sugar, artificial sweeteners and preservatives.  Fruit juices also contain lots of sugar, which can damage teeth.  Fizzy drinks do not contain many nutrients and are often loaded with sugar.  Milk and plain water are the healthiest choices.

In answer to the question how much water should I drink? – it is widely recommended that adults drink around 1.5 – 2 litres of water per day.

So – now that we have answered the question how much water should I drink a day; hopefully this article has been useful and informative – please leave any thoughts or comments below.