Food for the Face – Turmeric Facial Mask

The first thing on your mind is probably, “A turmeric mask?” Yes, you read right. Turmeric, in its powder form, is used in various recipes in South Asia, such as curry. But it also has many benefits for one’s health and appearance.

In different cultures, turmeric has been seen as a natural antibiotic, having powerful effects on the body. It has even been attributed to having anti-cancer properties, and the ability to inhibit other disorders. It especially works as an anti-inflammatory and anti-aging agent.

I first learned about this natural “beauty secret” from a Pakistani friend a year and a half ago. I was looking for a solution to uneven skin complexion, and a means to combat bouts of acne. For those with browner skin tones like myself, you may be used to your face appearing dramatically different from other areas of your body. For me, this summer tan fades slowly, and sometimes not at all!

How To Make The Mask:

So, what do you need for a turmeric mask? The list below includes ingredients for the mask featured in this blog:

1 tsp of turmeric powder
1 ½ – 2 tsp of ground oats
2-3 tbsp of plain non-fat yogurt

• Simply combine a small amount of turmeric powder with non-fat yogurt.
• If you lack a food processor, use a knife to chop up oats, then add to mix.
• Mix the ingredients until you create a paste (see the first photo above).
• Apply the mask to a clean face, and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes; then gently remove with warm water.

The ingredients for the turmeric mask can vary. In some instances, I have combined just tap water with turmeric. Coconut oil and turmeric is also a good combination, but tends to be runnier, and not as firm as using yogurt.

A Few Tips:

• Turmeric DOES stain. Avoid wearing nice clothing while using the mask.
• If you notice turmeric remnants after removing the mask, rinse your face thoroughly, or use a facial cleanser.
• To avoid staining your hands, use a glove or cotton ball to apply the paste.
• Natural skin remedies take longer than chemical alternatives. Be patient.

Since I first started using the turmeric mask, I have seen many improvements. My complexion is a lot brighter, skin tone is more even, and my acne and dark marks are more manageable. In fact, many people have noticed and complimented me on my skin.

This mask will heal and rejuvenate your skin. Give it a try! Plus, it’s fun to run around with a yellow mask from time-to-time.

So, there you have it. Turmeric is not  just food for the stomach, but also food for the face.

A Taste of Italy

Venice

What seems like almost a lifetime ago, this new year marks the four-year anniversary of my trip to Italy. For those observant ones, you may have noticed the image within the header of this blog. It is a picture I took of the Florence Cathedral, otherwise known as Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore.

It may seem of little value to you, but such a photo serves as a precious reminder of my first trip abroad, my first take on the world. In fact, my time in Florence, Rome, and Venice, opened my eyes to an array of wonders that this beautiful planet has to offer. I was immersed in a wealth of culture, art, language, and of course food!

Whether it was the thin-crust pizza, al dente (to the tooth) pasta, or the savory, frozen dessert, gelato, Italy could peak the taste buds of just about anyone! It’s very true that you can find all of these aforementioned foods here in America, but the taste and quality is just not the same.  

Til this day, I still long for another slice of Sicilian-style pizza that I had on my first day in Florence. My friends and I, with wide eyes, were drawn to the aroma and taste of that small piece of bliss. It was the last thing I thought I would be eating, but authentic Italian pizza was like no other. The size, fresh sauce, and melted cheese was perfect! Oddly enough, pizza became a staple for us during our week-long excursion. Every restaurant offered it, and it was often the cheapest thing on the menu. Have you seen the exchange rate for Euro vs. Dollar? In 2008, it was even worse. No wonder we ate it every day!

Thin-Crust Pizza

Something else I noticed while in Italy, was the vast differences in portion sizes. Yes, we know in America, that a bigger portion often equates to being better for the consumer, but in most European countries, people are a bit more conscious. While dining at a small café, 3-4 euros (about $6) bought me a very modest sized latte. The ornately crafted cup it was served in was no bigger than a shot glass. That’s a far cry from Starbucks’ tall, grande, and venti sizes, which are Italian inspired. 

Small Café

One last anecdote. At most restaurants in Italy, I had to get used to a few customs. When ordering water (acqua), a server usually asked if we wanted it plain, or with “gas.” Hearing this for the first time was confusing, but water with gas, simply is carbonated or sparkling water. Interesting right?

Since my trip to Italy, it’s very hard for me to visit Italian restaurants in America. I often compare them to the authentic food I once had. Honestly, Italian food is not my favorite. That’s my mother’s expertise, but I have been to some very good restaurants. Below is a small list:

Fellini’s Cafe Trattoria (106 West State Street – Media, PA)

La Famiglia Ristorante (8 South Front Street – Philadelphia, PA)

Primavera Pizza Kitchen (7 E Lancaster Ave Ardmore, PA )

Trattoria Giuseppe (4799 West Chester Pike – Newtown Square, PA)

Varalli Restaurant (231 South Broad Street – Philadelphia, PA)

If you’re looking for a country with amazing food, no doubt Italy is your destination. If not for foodventures, traveling abroad is an amazing experience. It’s an opportunity to broaden your perspective of the world and enrich your life with culture! I can’t wait to go back. Ciao 

This entry is dedicated to a very wonderful professor, who I had the privilege of traveling with on this trip, Dr. Arnold A Markley.

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Food Matters: A Lifestyle Change

Seaweed

It may seem like common sense, but the food that we eat does have lasting effects on our bodies. About three years ago this summer, I made the decision to stop eating red meat, as well as meats that were not either poultry or seafood. My decision to do so was not for humane reasons, though I do in fact care about living creatures. I chose to put a stop to feelings of being weighed down, overly full, and just plain sick from eating heavy meats. My feelings were only reinforced after viewing the documentary Food, Inc, detailing the harmful effects that the food industry, specifically factory-style farming, has on our lives.

Recently, I had the privilege of viewing another documentary, Food Matters, which focuses on the use of the Earth’s natural resources as a means of medicine, to cure common diseases that plague mankind.

The film opens up with these thought-provoking words, “Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine, And Thy Medicine Be Thy Food.” A quote by Hippocrates, regarded as the father of modern-day medicine, I was prepared for the tone of this film.

Through the words of various physicians, specialists, and experts, Food Matters seeks to alter the perception we have of the foods we eat in relation to pharmaceutical drugs. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and the list goes on. All of these “diseases,” these illnesses, have a pill to treat it.

For over a year now, I have worked in retail pharmacy, and have received a wealth of knowledge about medicines for the body. During that time though, I was also privy to the lifestyles of many patients. Those who are on drugs such as Lipitor, Crestor, Lasix, etc, seem to have similarities. A lot of them do not want to change. Instead of these drugs improving their lifestyles, some still eat the same foods that put them at risk in the first place.

For instance, Prilosec and Prevacid, drugs to help treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), are very popular. Some patients take these drugs for months at a time, and some, for longer periods. But, there are ways to manage such problems, or even eliminate them completely, by avoiding fatty foods, spicy foods, chocolate, alcohol, all things we love! The same can be said about a variety of diseases that people take prescriptions for. Virtually, our society has become accustomed to popping pills as a solution for our illnesses.

A friend of mine once said that high blood pressure and high cholesterol are “lifestyle illnesses.” At first, I wasn’t sure what he meant, but it makes sense. In the last 60 years, humans have pushed healthy foods to the back seat, with the emergence of fast food chains. These restaurants fry anything imaginable, and offer food at gigantic portions. There is no wonder why obesity is rampant in America , not to mention the scarcity of physical activity.

The film also echoes the sentiments that doctors and pharmaceutical companies can sometimes be the root of these problems. The healthcare industry, sad to say, profits at the expense of sick patients. This by no means writes doctors off as evil, but questions are left to be answered. I believe that perhaps more interest needs to be placed into educating patients about lifestyle changes, opposed to writing out the latest one-a-day tablet.

Food Matters, also advises its viewers about the power of superfoods, foods that are very high in nutrition, that also provide exceptional health benefits. Below are just a few that the film and its website mentions:

Blueberries: “Blueberries are rich in compounds that help protect the heart and may inhibit the growth of cancer cells. . . “ (http://www.foodmatters.tv)

Seaweed: “Seaweeds are the most nutritionally dense plants on the planet as they have access to all the nutrients in the ocean . . .” (http://www.foodmatters.tv)

Sweet Potatoes: “Sweet potatoes are high in fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, potassium and manganese . . .” (www.foodmatters.tv) 

I still have a long way to go in understanding my body, and the benefits of the foods that I put into it. The saying, “you are what you eat” is so true. We cannot expect to live long, healthy lives, if we are constantly ingesting fake, mass-produced, and processed foods. Food does matter!

Below is a clip to the introduction of Food Matters. I only highlighted a few points. You can also find other clips on YouTube, or even instantly stream it on Netflix!