This lush image is from a website selling organic green tea.

In the middle of drawing today I decided to have a tea break which turned into a mini beauty break.  I love tea and primarily drink green or black tea.  I also love beauty products derived from nature.  Tea has a double effect, inside & out.  Now for your cautionary note:  I've read varying opinions on green & black tea consumption.  It's a wellspring of antioxidants, but it's also loaded with tannins.  Tannin is an astringent, which is good in moderation internally.  Additionally, green tea contains uric acid (the culprit behind gout).  It is likely tannins should be consumed in moderation, while uric acid intake should absolutely be limited.  So be thoughtful about your consumption.  


There is something to the process of making a cup of tea that slows down this modern world.  I find a sort of peace in the ritual.  Chado, sado or chanoyu are a prime examples of ceremony raised up to a near godly act.  These rituals are meticulously and painfully beautiful if you've ever studied it or participated in Japanese tea ceremony.  I have only witnessed chado and find it to be near miraculous.  My little tea break is nothing like these well defined rituals.  Breaking completely with all tradition, I steeped a bag (!) of green tea in almost boiling water.  I drank it while it was still hot, breathing deeply of its green earthiness.  Enter calmness.

Loose green tea, image from a website of tea history and accouterments.

But then I do something else.  After drinking, I let the tea bag cool and apply it to my skin as an astringent.  Tea is extremely good for your exterior.  There are claims that it helps prevent sun damage (I'm a doubter), but the fresh antioxidants soak right into the dermis.  This little trick appeals to my frugal side.  I'm double using the tea bag, my skin glows afterwards and I don't even use a cotton ball.  It's the epitome of upcycling! Cooled teabag applied to face and neck, that's it.  I swear, I instantly look like I've been on vacation or slept for the entire weekend.  Possibly, in the right light, I may even look 5 years younger.  As the tea dries, my skin feels firmer and I really do glow.

According to research at Cornell University, the astringents in tea may alter your taste.  Article here.

It's my little secret that I'm sharing with you.  Drink up!  Here's to your health, wealth and happiness.  Now, I'm back to my graphite and paper.  Ideas are swarming me.

xo,
Jen

Ode to Lemons

For some of my friends the lime is where it's at, but I love a lemon.  Lemon makes my palate sing and gives me goose flesh.  This little yellow orb can change a meal from bland to spectacular.  Zest of lemon brings out the best in salad, seafood, baked goods, or a simple bowl cut up fruit.  I love the piney scent lemon gives to water when halves are left to linger in the glass.  The smell of lemon juice in the air lifts my spirits.  My favorite recipes and books are easily discerned because the lemon spray the pages crinkled and wavy.  Citrus limon also has a host of purported health benefits.  I've been doing some research on lemons, partially to justify my 8 lemon a week habit, and have discovered some interesting information.

• A lemon half with salt makes an excellent scrubber.  It's my favorite way to clean cast iron cookware.  I also like it for cleaning the tub.  It smells great, disinfects, and is completely natural.  Oh, and it's cheap, I do love cheap.

• Lemon juice lightens hair (I think we all know this), but I took it a step further.  Applied to freckles and age spots, it fades them.  At least, in my experience, the spots are not as dark.  Just remember sunscreen so your efforts are not ruined.

• That same lemon half I used on my spots, is used next in a lesser known way.  Lemon is has antibacterial properties and when applied to the skin it's a fabulous deodorant.  Non-toxic and inexpensive, just apply to pits, let dry, and voila, no stink. The best part is, you only have to do this for about a week and the results stick around for about a month.  Yay!  

• Lemon is a powerful tooth whitener.  Use sparingly, as my mother always warned lemon juice eats tooth enamel.  Here's what I do (once or twice a year), wet my tooth brush, pack on as much baking soda as it will  hold, squeeze a little lemon juice on the baking soda, brush teeth.  Wow, are they white.  If you have sensitive teeth, skip this method.  I brush my teeth about 30 minutes after whitening, letting the enamel rest.  I have no scientific research about "resting" my tooth enamel.  It simply feels better.

Moving to the internal effects of lemon juice, lemon is a well-documented, powerful body alkalizer.  If you love a list, as I do, here's a great one about the benefits of lemons. Having an alkaline system is one of the keys to keeping the body running smoothly and preventing inflammation.  The more alkaline your body is, the fewer toxins in the blood and lymphatic system and the better able it is to repair itself.  Here I should note, limes are just as potent an alkalizer, so if they're your preference, squeeze on.

• Use a whole lemon, juice it thoroughly into a big glass of water and reap the health benefits (maybe will even give you goosebumps).  This is likely the yummiest & easiest thing you can do for yourself.  Here is an inspiring article about the healing nature of lemon water and other alkalizing foods.

• Lemon juice in water is a simple way to detoxifying your liver.  In case you didn't know, your liver is a filter.  Like all filters, it needs to be cleaned.  Lemon juice aids in bile liquification (so the liver works better), dissolving uric acid & toxins, and helps stimulates the metabolism.  It's a great start to the day.  Here's an interesting article with 5 reasons to drink lemon juice in your water every morning.

• Drinking lemon water is great for the skin.  It helps flush the bowels and has lots of vitamin C.  Vitamin C is key in collagen production.  Collagen acts as scaffolding for your skin.  So the more your body makes, the healthier (and firmer) your skin.  Flushing bowels removes toxins from the body, which means there's less bad bacteria in your gut, which leads to fewer breakouts.  For more details on acidity/alkalinity and your skin, check out this article.

For as many places on the web that talk of lemon water, there are opinions on the temperature it should be consumed.  My opinion (take it for what it is, a girl with internet access and no medical training), lemon water is great hot, cold and in between.  In the summer, I like it ice cold.  In the winter I like it warm, with honey and ginger (recipe below), but most days, I prefer it in a jar at room temperature.

Warming lemon water recipe:

32 oz. water
1 organic lemon
generous teaspoon of local, raw, organic honey
1" - 2" piece of organic ginger (if using conventionally grown ginger, please wash & peel it)

Heat water to almost boiling.  In the juicer (or blender), juice the entire lemon and nob of ginger, skin and all into a big glass.  Leave the skin because it's filled with phytonutrients and compounds the effects of the warming water.  Stir in honey, add hot water.  Drink up!  Some recommend this twice a day, once in the morning & again in the evening.  I make this when I'm cold and need the fire returned to my belly.  It makes the little hairs stand up on the back of my neck.  I also swear I can see an immediate change in my skin.  I glow after drinking this (maybe I'm just perspiring, but I like to think it's a glow).


A little side note.  I am not a medical doctor and this information is in NO way meant to act as medical advice.  These are all things I do and have noticed a positive change in my skin and my feeling of well-being.  I thought I'd share my insight (and links to other people's experiences), so maybe you can have similar ones.  Also, I needing to rationalize and support for my lemon habit.  I love the lemon!

Enjoy responsibly.

xo,
Jen