Bone Broth....The Fountain of Youth?

Over the past year or so,since we began purchasing a side of beef directly from the farmer, I have researched and experimented on using "all the beef parts" that come with our amazing grass fed cow. Who knew you get all the Gifts With Purchase (Just like the cosmetics counter, ladies- and actually it works better at skin tissue repair than any cosmetics on the market!) Seriously, the more I continue to read on the benefits of traditional Primitive Bone Broth....the more I am inclined to think it should be a new food group with major therapeutic benefits.

Broth is made from bones with a cartilage coating at the ends, broth infuses your blood with molecules of collagen and glycosaminoglycan that affect your body in amazing ways. Researchers now use colleagen hydrosylate(hydrolysis- means breaking a protein apart using water molecules) to grow brand new organs from stem cells (stem cells are baby cells that can be grown into any type of cell)In your body, these molecules travel to worn out tissues where they make stem cells more plentiful, effectively reversing time in your tissues.This gives bone broths an ability to rejuvenate all your worn out bones, joints, connective tissues, and the structural supports for skin(gotta love this one girls!). Most of the tissues have low blood supply and would otherwise be unable to heal.Supplements containing Glucosamine and Chondroiten provide two members of this family of miraculous molecules, but bone broth contains the whole family and works far superior in whole food form.

Properly prepared, the broth is also highly nutritious, containing the minerals of bone, cartilage, marrow and vegetables as electrolytes, a form that is easy to assimilate. Acidic wine or vinegar added during cooking helps draw out dense minerals--particularly calcium, magnesium and potassium into the broth. Dr. Frances Pottenger, author of the famous cat studies as well as articles on the benefits of natural gelatin in in broth, pointed out that broth is of greatest value because of its supply of hydrophyllic colloids to the diet. Raw food compounds are colloidal and hydrophyllic, meaning they attract liquids. Thus, when we eat a salad or some other raw food, the hydrophyllic colloids attract digestive juices for rapid an effective digestion. Colloids that have been heated are generally hydrophobic--they repel liquids, making cooked food harder to digest. However, the proteinaceous gelatin in bone broths has the unusual property of attracting liquids--it is hydrophyllic--even after it has been heated. the same property from which gelatin attracts water to form desserts, like Jello, allows it to attract digestive juices to the surface of the foods.Consequently, gelatin acts first and formost as an aid to digestion and has been used succesfully to treat many intestinal disorders such as colitis and chrohns disease. Gelatin found in bone broth has also been used in the treatment of anemia,blood diseases, diabetes, muscular dystrophy and even some forms of cancer.Another notable component of the broth is cartilage, which has recently been used with remarkable results in treating rheumatoid arthritis.

Broths can be made from many different animal bones for various therapeutic benefits and flavors. We all know that chicken stock is the cure for the common cold, right? and did you know that iodine rich fish stock, using the bones and head (containing the thyroid gland) is also a Primitive treatment for symptoms of thyroid disease. So no matter what animal bones you use to make the broth, it is important to know "how the animal was raised"! Animals that were allowed to move about and enjoy their natural intended diet (what we should ALL be doing)build healthier bones and joints. Their bones and joints will become your bones and joints, so you will need them to be as healthy as possible.

Bone broth is made by slowly simmering lightly roasted bones together with a variety of fresh vegetables and some kind of acid like wine, tomatoes or vinegar to leach out the minerals. The boiling time depends on the diameter of the bonesand cow bones take the longest of most animals. The broth will wiggle like Jello when cool due to the gelatin content. And determined by how much of the collagen and glycosaminoglycan, the stiffer the broth will become when chilled. Most commercially made broths are made from meat not bones and will not provide the same benefit. You can freeze the broth for several months. Uses include, soup base, gravy/sauce base and even cooking your rice dishes in the broth....OR for you fellow grain free ladies, cook your cauliflower rice in the broth for a few minutes to absorb the flavor and many health benefits. So, get in touch with your local grass fed farmer to get some high quality bones and make your own fountain of youth elixir!

A gift to cherish......."Naked Beauty"

There are rare moments in our journey through life that we encounter something or someone that will forever be imprinted on our soul. This experience is such a gift to cherish like a beautiful and wondrous jewel. Naked Beauty reintroduced me to my feminine strength that I was so searching for. The gratitude that I feel from my heart is overwhelming. There are so many beautiful nuances in Shakayas perspective that she shares in this inspirational work on health, beauty and living your most celebrated self. This is a guide on how to be beautiful from the inside out. If you want to “feel your beauty, know your worth and celebrate your power” You must know the Earth Empress and her beautiful creation~ “Naked Beauty”!



Visit: http://earthempress.com/nakedbeauty/ you will love yourself for this gift <3


Much Love and Many Blessings~
Melissa, The Primitive Diva

Primitive Beauty Secret: Dry Skin Brushing

Okay Divas....I have a brief quiz before I give you one of my most favorite beauty secrets.....
What is the largest organ in the body?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!

What organ is responsible for ¼ of the body’s detoxification each day?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!

What organ eliminates two pounds of waste acids daily?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!

What is one of the most important elimination organs in the body?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!

What organ receives one third of all the blood that is circulated in the body?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!

When the blood is full of toxic materials, what organ will reflect this with problems?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!

What organ is the last to recieve nutrients in the body, yet the first to shows signs of imbalance or deficiency
ANSWER: THE SKIN!



A Primitive Approach to Healthier Skin

The practice of dry skin brushing may be old news to those who practice the daily routine, but with all the skin care products and hypes out there, we thought it important to re-introduce a process that is not only a great way to maintain healthy skin, but also helps you to maintain a healthy body. The ability of the skin to excrete toxins is of paramount importance to you.

Dry skin brushing is one of the healthier self-help methods available to us today.And has been around for thousands of years. Stimulation of the skin sets in motion natural healing pathways within your body. Additionally, it encourages nerve beds within its structure that in turn increases normal healing processes throughout the body.

There are several automatic systems contained by the body including healing processes. Your heart beats by design—you breathe automatically—and your body’s “automatic healing process”, is another. It is set in motion when your body generates an itching response to the required areas. You will obviously scratch that area, and in turn, the area turns red with a fresh blood supply and the natural healing process has now been set in motion. This is the same healing process that will follow a skin brushing session.

Your skin is the primary sign of an internally toxic body. As soon as your internal body becomes toxic, it will spread out into your skin causing your skin to become irritated and itchy. There are numerous ports of elimination of the skin including your mouth, face, and arm pits, the inside of your upper thigh region, feet, and toe nails. Did you know that body odor is also an additional indicator of toxic build-up and is eradicated through the same channels. Let’s not forget your tongue, which builds up a plaque and is yet another gauge of toxins in the body.

Our skin is permeable or porous, and can absorb toxins directly from the environment. According to Jacqueline Krohn, MD, “Caustic chemicals, such as alkaline solutions, can also penetrate the skin. Once a chemical has penetrated the stratum corneum (the most superficial layer of the skin), it moves through the epidermis and into the dermis. Skin brushing will enhance your health significantly. You may wonder how this is accomplished using, “skin brushing”. It is a fact that the skin is one of the optimal ways to getting to the endocrine system and all the glands it reaches very quickly. In addition, at the same time, it triggers them to react successfully. The instantaneous result from a brushing session is a feeling of increased physical well being.



The Benefits Of Dry Skin Brushing


• Dry skin brushing helps to shed dead skin cells, which can help improve skin texture and cell renewal.


• Dry skin brushing increases circulation to skin, encouraging your body’s discharge of metabolic wastes, which greatly aids the lymphatic drainage of the entire body. When the body rids itself of toxins, it is able to run more efficiently in all areas.


• Dry skin brushing also helps to tighten the skin because it increases the flow of blood. Increasing the circulation to the skin can also help lessen the appearance of cellulite.


• Dry skin brushing stimulates the lymph canals to drain toxic mucoid matter into the colon, thereby purifying the entire system. This enables the lymph to perform its house-cleaning duties by keeping the blood and other vital tissues detoxified. After several days of dry brushing, you may notice the gelatinous mucoid material in your stools.


• Dry skin brushing helps with muscle tone and more even distribution of fat deposits.


• Dry skin brushing also rejuvenates the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin.


• Dry skin brushing helps your skin to absorb nutrients by eliminating clogged pores. Healthy, breathing skin contributes to overall body health.


• Individuals who sit at a computer screen all day long will particularly take pleasure in the benefits of skin brushing. People who have inactive lifestyles or jobs usually experience stiff and sore necks and shoulders that reach even into their arms and down their spines and into their lower backs. Increased blood flow begins entering the areas brushed and you will experience an increase in electromagnetic energy that permits you to feel energized and invigorated.


• LADIES—Cellulite is toxic. Cellulite is toxic materials that are accumulated in your body’s fat cells as they are unable to be eliminated. So, rather than liposuction surgery, how about utilizing the “dry skin brushing” techniques coupled with an alkaline diet program and a great exercising routine. It will break down the unwelcome toxic body deposits and send them scurrying out of your body through the elimination channels we discussed above.



How to Get Started With Your Skin Brushing Regimen

1. Purchase a natural, NOT a synthetic, bristle brush. (vegetable bristle)


2. Purchase a brush with a long handle, so that you are able to reach all areas of your body. Best-case scenario would be one that had a removable head with a strap for your hand.


3. Skin brushing should be performed once a day, preferably first thing in the morning. If you are feeling ill, please do it twice a day until you feel better.


4. Skin brushing should be performed prior to your bath or shower and your body dry and naked.


5. Begin brushing your skin in long sweeping strokes starting from the bottom of your feet upwards, and from the hands towards the shoulders, and on the torso in an upward direction. Always brush towards the heart. Try and brush several times in each area, over-lapping as you go.


6. Avoid sensitive areas and anywhere the skin is broken.



7. After brushing your skin, rinse off in the shower. Paavo Airola, author of Swedish Beauty Secrets, recommends alternating temperatures in the shower from hot to cold. This will further invigorate the skin and stimulate blood circulation, bring more blood to the outer layers of the skin.


8. After getting out of the shower, dry off vigorously and massage your skin with pure plant oil, such as almond, jojoba, sesame or coconut. We like to use a small amount of Euro Organic Oil which is a blend of sunflower, almond, apricot, avocado, and jojoba oils.

9. Don’t forget to clean your skin brush using soap and water once a week. After rinsing, dry your skin brush in an open, sunny spot to prevent mildew.


10. For a thorough lymphatic cleansing, perform skin brushing daily for a minimum of three months.


Caution: Do not brush on or over skin rashes, wounds, cuts, infections, poison oak or poison ivy.

Note: Any well designed program will take about 30 days to see and experience the changes. Please be patient and keep up the program! Before long you will have healthy glowing diva like skin....!

The REAL price for Beauty.....!

In my nutritional therapy sessions, I frequently suggest strict avoidance of the "Dirty Dozen" of the most contaminated foods. Did you know there is a "Dirty Dozen" list for your skincare products. The common sense of reading a skin care label and asking yourself...."would I eat this" should be taken daily. Your skin is the largest organ of the body and everything you put onto it WILL be absorbed transdermally.

From shampoos, to soaps, to lotions, to makeup — it's not uncommon for a single person to use 10 or more personal care products each day. But some of the ingredients in beauty products aren't that pretty. U.S. researchers found that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, plasticizers, degreasers, and surfactants.

Here is a list of 12 chemicals you might want to avoid. Check the ingredient lists on the personal care products you purchase. I suggest printing a list to keep with you on your next trip to the cosmetics counter,drug store or salon.In my upcoming Primitive Diva book, I will share some recipes and resources for safe natural skincare, dental care and hair care. Please let me know what your Healthy Living products are.

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are used mainly in moisturizers and makeup as antioxidants and preservatives. They are also a hidden ingredient in some fragrances. BHA is toxic to the immune system and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a possible human carcinogen. Studies suggest that BHT may be toxic to the skin, lungs, liver, and immune system. Both chemicals can cause allergic reactions, are suspected of interfering with hormone function (endocrine disruption), and may promote tumour growth. They also have the potential to bioaccumulate in aquatic species.

2. Coal Tar Dyes

•Look for p-phenylenediamine or colours identified as "C.I." followed by a 5-digit number
Phenylenediamine, used in hair dyes, has been found to be carcinogenic in laboratory tests conducted by the U.S. National Cancer Institute and National Toxicology Program. Other coal tar-derived colours are used extensively in cosmetics, identified by a five-digit Colour Index (C.I.) number. The U.S. colour name may also be listed ("FD&C" or "D&C" followed by a colour name and number). Coal tar itself is recognized as a human carcinogen and the main concern with coal tar colours are their potential as carcinogens. As well, colours may be contaminated with low levels of heavy metals and some contain aluminum (a neurotoxin). This is of particular concern when used in cosmetics that may be ingested, like lipstick.

3. DEA

•Look also for related chemicals MEA and TEA
DEA (diethanolamine) and DEA compounds are used to make cosmetics creamy or sudsy. They irritate the skin and eyes and may be toxic to the immune and nervous systems. DEA compounds can also react with other ingredients in cosmetics to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency classifies cocamide DEA as hazardous to the environment because of its acute toxicity to aquatic organisms and potential for bioaccumulation.

4. Dibutyl Phthalate

Dibutyl phthalate (prounced thal-ate) is used mainly in nail products as a solvent for dyes and as a plasticizer that prevents nail polishes from becoming brittle. Phthalates are also unlisted fragrance ingredients in many other cosmetics. Dibutyl phthalate is absorbed through the skin. It can enhance the capacity of other chemicals to cause genetic mutations, although it is not a mutagen itself. In laboratory experiments, it has been shown to interfere with hormone function (endocrine disruption) causing reproductive and developmental problems. Dibutyl phthalate is banned in cosmetics in the European Union, but not in Canada.

5. Formaldehyde-releasing Preservatives

•Look for DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine, quarternium-15, and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
Formaldehyde-releasing agents DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine, quarternium-15, and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate are used as preservatives in cosmetics. Formaldehyde is a recognized human carcinogen. DMDM hydantoin and quarternium-15 can irritate skin and eyes and trigger allergies at low doses. They are also toxic to aquatic organisms.

6. Fragrance or Parfum

The term "fragrance" or "parfum" on a cosmetic ingredients list usually represents a complex mixture of dozens of chemicals. Fragrance recipes are considered a trade secret, so companies are not required to disclose fragrance chemicals in the list of ingredients. Of the thousands of chemicals used in fragrances, most have not been tested for toxicity, alone or in combination. Many of these hidden ingredients are irritants and can trigger allergic attacks, migraines, and chemical-induced nerve irritation in sensitive individuals. In laboratory experiments, individual fragrance ingredients have been associated with cancer and neurotoxicity. For example, one chemical of concern is dimethyl phthalate (prounced thal-ate), or DEP. Widely used in cosmetics to make fragrances linger, DEP is suspected of interfering with hormone function (endocrine disruption), causing reproductive and developmental problems. Health Canada recently announced regulations banning six phthalates in children's toys, but DEP is still widely used in cosmetics.

7. Parabens

•Look for ingredients ending in "paraben" (e.g., methylparaben)
Parabens are widely used in cosmetics as a preservative. They easily penetrate the skin and are suspected of interfering with hormone function (endocrine disruption). There is some evidence that parabens mimic estrogen, the primary female sex hormone. Some studies suggest a possible association between parabens and breast cancer.

8. PEG compounds (e.g., PEG-60)

•Look also for related chemical propylene glycol and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., polyethylene glycol).
PEG (polyethylene glycol) compounds are widely used in cream bases in cosmetics. PEG (and its chemical cousin, propylene glycol) opens the skin's pores, allowing harmful ingredients to penetrate more deeply. PEG and other "ethoxylated" ingredients (which usually have chemical names including the letters "eth") may be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. Both contaminants may cause cancer. Also, ethylene oxide may harm the nervous system and interfere with human development, and 1,4-dioxane is persistent. In other words, it doesn't easily degrade and can remain in the environment long after it is rinsed down the shower drain.

9. Petrolatum

Petrolatum (mineral oil jelly) is used as a barrier to lock moisture in the skin in a variety of moisturizers. It is also used in hair care products to make your hair shine. A petrochemical, it can be contaminated with cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The European Union considers petrolatum a carcinogen and restricts its use in cosmetics.

10. Siloxanes

•Look for cyclomethicone and ingredients ending in "siloxane" (e.g., cyclotetrasiloxane)
Cyclomethicone and siloxanes are used in cosmetics to soften, smooth, and moisten. These compounds can, however, irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs. They are also suspected of interfering with hormone function (endocrine disruption) and of liver toxicity. These chemicals are persistent. In other words, they don't easily degrade and can remain in the environment long after they are rinsed down the shower drain. Environment Canada considers cyclotetrasiloxane and cyclopentasiloxane to be toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms.

11. Sodium Laureth Sulfate

•Look also for related chemical sodium lauryl sulfate and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., sodium laureth sulfate).
Sodium laureth sulfate is used in cosmetics as a cleansing agent and also to make products bubble and foam. This and other "ethoxylated" ingredients (which usually have chemical names including the letters "eth") may be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. Both contaminants may cause cancer. Also, ethylene oxide may harm the nervous system and interfere with human development, and 1,4-dioxane is persistent. In other words, it doesn't easily degrade and can remain in the environment long after it is rinsed down the shower drain.

12. Triclosan

Triclosan is used mainly in antiperspirants/deodorants, cleansers, and hand sanitizers as a preservative and an anti-bacterial agent. It can pass through skin and is suspected of interfering with hormone function (endocrine disruption). Environment Canada categorized triclosan as potentially toxic to aquatic organisms, bioaccumulative, and persistent. In other words, it doesn't easily degrade and can build up in the environment after it has been rinsed down the shower drain. The extensive use of this chemical in consumer products may contribute to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The Canadian Medical Association has called for a ban on antibacterial consumer products, such as those containing triclosan.