Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Broccoli Sprout Extract for UV Protection

On my other blog, It's Your Life, I wrote a post on the "Benefits of Broccoli Sprouts." Broccoli sprouts are one of the best sprouts we can eat because of the compound sulforphane. During my research of this amazing compound I came across an article on how broccoli sprout extract protects our skin from the ultra violet rays of the sun.

Sulforphane and Our Skin

Fifteen years ago Paul Talalay M.D. a professor of pharmacology and colleagues first identified the compound sulforphane in broccoli sprout extract. He noted that the extract does not act like all the sunscreen products we find on the store shelves. The products in the stores have been created to absorb UV rays. Sulforphane on the other hand works inside the body by triggering enzymes. These are protective enzymes which actually defend the cells against UV damage. 

Another beneficial aspect of sulforphane in the broccoli sprout extract is that it lasts for several days after being applied. The article did not say why, but I think it may be because it is working from inside the body verses outside the body. The sulforphane from the extract I believe penetrates the skin, goes into the skin cells and like the Energizer Bunny it keeps going and going and going.

The Research

The research on how the broccoli sprout extract reacted to UV rays was conducted by a team from the John Hopkins Medical Center. Results from the research was published in an issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2007. Testing was first done with success on mouse models to prove Talalay's theroy of sulforphane. Once that was confirmed the team recruited six healthy volunteers for human testing. Volunteers were exposed to a pulse of UV radiation on a one inch diameter of their skin. Volunteers were treated with the extract applied to their skin in various doses. 

Results varied according to the doses from 8% to 78% however, it was determined that other factors  
had to be taken into consideration, genetics, skin tone, lifestyle, diet, and more. Volunteers with the highest dosage experienced 37% less inflammation and redness from exposure to the UV radiation. 
They also tested volunteers who had the extract applied three days prior to the testing with positive results. During the testing other sunscreen products were also tested with no positive results.

Making Broccoli Sprout Extract

Soooo, I searched and searched for a way to create broccoli sprout extract with no results. I also searched to find an actual product and found 1 however, it was for internal use as were all the other products I found. My experience with herbs and creating extracts is to use a high percentage alcohol or vegetable glycerin. I'm thinking we could take the sprouts when they are 3 days old as this is when they contain the most sulforphane and put them in a jar of alcohol or vegetable glycerin for 6 weeks. This is the same process used to create any extract. My next step is to find out how to use it on the skin. I'm thinking about playing and seeing if I can create a lotion using other ingredients that offer UV protection like Shea butter and tamanu oil. I'm sure there are others, but those are the ones I know for sure have the UV protection. 

If you found this post helpful please share so others can learn from it.


Tuesday's With a Twist #151 Link Up

I was a part of this NO RULES link up when it first started with my blog It's Your Life. Since then a lot has changed like adding another blog. So, enough of that on to the party. Our host is.....


It's Your Life



Our co-hosts are....

Joyce from Heavenly Bodies
Angie from God's Growing Garden

Okay there is one rule family friendly posts only. Link up begins Tuesdays at 7:00 am eastern and runs through Friday 11:59 pm eastern. Don't just link up and leave if we all did that no one would gain any readers, new friends, or followers. While you are there leave a comment and let them know you followed them from Tuesday's With a Twist. I don't know about you, but I like to know how my readers found me. On to the party.


Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Tuesday's With a Twist #150 Link Up

I was a part of this NO RULES link up when it first started with my blog It's Your Life. Since then a lot has changed like adding another blog. So, enough of that on to the party. Our host is.....


It's Your Life



Our co-hosts are....

Joyce from Heavenly Bodies
Angie from God's Growing Garden

Okay there is one rule family friendly posts only. Link up begins Tuesdays at 7:00 am eastern and runs through Friday 11:59 pm eastern. Don't just link up and leave if we all did that no one would gain any readers, new friends, or followers. While you are there leave a comment and let them know you followed them from Tuesday's With a Twist. I don't know about you, but I like to know how my readers found me. On to the party.


Monday, February 15, 2016

Cleanse Your Home of Negativity


I had a customer place an order for our Eye & Face Cream. Every batch is handcrafted at the time of orders to ensure freshness. Well, I made the cream and it didn't come our right, I made it 3 more times and each time the oil was separating.

It took me almost 2 years to get this cream the way I wanted it. I learned that emulsifying wax was better than bees wax for making creams as it aids in holding the liquid ingredients together. Just wanted to add that in case any of the readers was thinking ahhhhh I bet she used bees wax.

Panic


Southern man pumped in a panic for information, what did you do different? Did you use a different brand? Are you sure you got the measurements right? Did you follow the recipe? My gosh I did everything all three times, what's different? We began to think, the temperature in the house was different, I had used water from the flow water up the road, which I put through the Berkey, and my daughter was here with her ex-boyfriend's brother, long story.

Living Natural


Because we want to live as natural as possible we have done a lot or research and have been open to a lot of things others are not. One of those things is vibrational frequencies, everything is vibration. Did you ever meet someone or go somewhere and you felt something bad? That is negative vibration, thus the term bad vibes, they are real. These vibrations effect us and the environment we reside in and more.

As we were learning more about the importance of vibrational frequency I borrowed a book from my essential oil lady. The book was called The Hidden Messages in Water by Massaru Emoto who discovered that our thoughts, words, and feelings have an effect on the water. As I thought about that my daughter came to mind. She had just been through a lot and wasn't in the clear, first her boyfriend totaled her car by hitting a deer, her roommates moved out, she lost her job, and then her boyfriend broke up with her all within a one month time period, wow!!! We decided it was her negative vibrations in the house that caused the 3 bad batches as it does contain water.

The Solution


I felt I needed to wait until she left before I attempted to create another batch. My customer was very understanding and didn't think I was weird. I know that smudging with a sage  stick is very powerful for ridding a home of negativity, but could not find anywhere close to us that sold them. So, I turned to essential oils, but my essential oil lady did not have sage. I did some research and found some other oils that also helped to dispel negative energy and she also had some suggestions.

My essential oil lady had Juniper and White Angelica and told me to my hand over my heart chakra while holding the bottle, and ask the universe if I needed Juniper to cleanse the negativity in my house. If the answer is yes your body will start to move forward, if it is no your body will move backwards. This is caused by the vibrational frequency of the item and the universe. This was something new to me, but I took both of them home and got a yes from both, but the pull from the White Angelica was stronger therefore that was the one I used. So, here is how you can create a spray to rid your home or any space of negative energy.

Negative Dispelling Spray


4 oz glass bottle
1 tsp vodka
20 drops of essential oil
3 oz of filtered water

Make sure your bottle is a dark color if you will be storing some of your spray. This should then be stored in a dark cool place to ensure the oil holds its medicinal properties. Put all of the ingredients in the bottle and shake it up. Start at the front door like you are coming in and start spraying to the right. Be sure to spary around each doorway on both sides. I have also read that you should open a door or window to let the negative energy out while doing this, but I didn't. I did this 2 days in a row starting on a Wednesday, I was told to wait until Saturday to create the cream. I did and the cream came out just the way it is suppose to.

Oils for Dispelling Negativity

  • Cedarwood 
  • Cypress
  • Frankincense 
  • Juniper 
  • Lavender 
  • Myrrh use with one of the other oils to enhance it
  • Palo Santo
  • Rose
  • Sage

White Angelica 


White Angelica is a blend created by Young Living Essential Oils. It contains 9 different oils which are as follows.
  • Bergamot - Used for emotional stress
  • Geranium 
  • Hyssop -
  • Melissa - Balance emotions
  • Myrrh 
  • Rose
  • Sandalwood
  • Spruce 
  • Ylang Ylang - Control negative feelings 
Always be sure to research the oils before using. While they are natural some should not be used by certain individuals. Make sure to purchase a quality oil from a reputable source, not all oils are pure.

Other Ways to Clear Negative Energy 

  • Plants
  • Open windows with sunlight coming through
  • Himalayan Sea Salt lamps or the salt put into a earthen bowls put into rooms
  • Smudging white sage stick us the same way as the spray
  • Black Tourmaline placed in each room

Okay bottom line if you are creating a product that requires water and it doesn't turn out right, check the vibes going through your space.


This post was featured February 2016 on the Meet Up Monday Link Up.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Tuesday's With a Twist #149 Link Up

I was a part of this NO RULES link up when it first started with my blog It's Your Life. Since then a lot has changed like adding another blog. So, enough of that on to the party. Our host is.....


It's Your Life



Our co-hosts are....

Joyce from Heavenly Bodies
Angie from God's Growing Garden

Okay there is one rule family friendly posts only. Link up begins Tuesdays at 7:00 am eastern and runs through Friday 11:59 pm eastern. Don't just link up and leave if we all did that no one would gain any readers, new friends, or followers. While you are there leave a comment and let them know you followed them from Tuesday's With a Twist. I don't know about you, but I like to know how my readers found me. On to the party.


Saturday, February 6, 2016

Valentine's Day Specials


It is that time of the year again when lovers and friends a like seek to show their appreciation for them. This Valentine's Day give the gift of beautiful skin with our specials are totally affordable and with free shipping you can't go wrong.

We have two specials for you from now until February 14, 2016.

Special #1


You can also choose if you want Wheat Germ Oil or Hemp Oil in the Eye & Face Cream. For those with wheat or gluten allergies we recommend the Hemp Oil.

Special #2


You can choose the Wheat Germ Oil or Hemp Oil in the Eye & Face Cream and if you would like bees wax or our vegan Healing Salve created with emulsifying wax.

New Trial Size Containers

We also have purchased new 1/2 trial containers which have a nice sleek look, see image. These containers are a #7 and should not be reused.