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Category: Healthy Living

  1. Recipes for natural remedies

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    Recipes for natural remedies

    Carrots 1

    A few simple ingredients in your kitchen that will comfort the soul and boost your immunity in equal measure… 

    Momma Soveral's cough syrup

    Carrots are rich in vitamin A and other antioxidants that support to immune system.

    Here's a simple remedy from Alexandra’s mother to soothe a cough and sore throat, or to boost the immune system…

    What you will need:
    One carrot

    A little bit of brown sugar

    • Thin slice a carrot into a ceramic or glass bowl.
    • Cover the carrot slices with a dusting of brown sugar.
    • Cover and leave overnight (out of the fridge).
    • A lovely syrup will form that soothes and heals.

    A teaspoon a few times a day will work wonders.
    Carrots - after 2

    Jorj's Smashing Avocado

    • Take one semi ripe or not too soft avocado
    • Cut in half with sharp knife, piece skin and press knife blade until you hit the stone
    • Rotate knife & avocado in tandem so that start point becomes one with finish
    • Twist and behold, two halves. Removed stone
    • Sprinkle with salt to taste
    • Take one half and cup in hand, with tea spoon procedure to eat

    Done!

      avacados

    Perfect Skin's Soups


    soup

    There are numerous soup recipes in Alexandra’s book, ‘Perfect Skin’, but it all begins with a good base – a lovely way to use up any leftovers or vegetables that might be on the turn:

     What you will need:

    1.7 litres water

    1 large white onion, cut into quarters

    2 garlic cloves, crushed

    1 large carrot, peeled and roughly chopped

    1 large potato, peeled and cubed

    Any extra or leftover vegetables

    A pinch of salt

    A pinch of freshly ground black pepper

             Bring water to the boil

    • Add all the ingredients in the above order (leave the leftover vegetables out)
    • Take off the heat and blend until smooth
    • Return to heat and add leftovers. Cook until tender
    • Season and serve

     Root Vegetable and Watercress Soup

     This is Alexandra’s “all-time favourite” soup, so we had to include it here!

     What you will need:

    1.7 litres water

    1 medium chilli, finely chopped

    3 garlic cloves, crushed

    1 large white onion, finely chopped

    2 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped

    ½ medium swede, peeled and roughly chopped

    2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped

    2 parsnips, peeled and roughly chopped

    1 red pepper, roughly chopped

    1 turnip, peeled and roughly chopped

    A pinch of salt

    A large bunch of watercress, washed

    A drizzle of olive oil, to serve

     

    • Bring water to the boil
    • Add all the ingredients, except the watercress, in the above order
    • Take off the heat. Add the watercress and cook for a couple of minutes
    • Check the seasoning and drizzle with the oil before serving

     Enjoy!

     

    For more delectable recipes that feed the soul and leave you glowing, look no further…

     Soveral Perfect Skin Book Web-Res

  2. Alexandra’s Crash Course on Oil

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    Alexandra oils

    Do all skin types suit oil?


    Some people believe their skin will breakout at the sight of a face oil, for the most part they are right, here is why:

    Reason 1        They may be using an oil that is not actually an oil.

    Reason 2        The oil they are using is unsuitable for their skin, it may be too fatty.

    Reason 3        Their skin truly cannot cope with oil.

    Reason 1
    Not all oils on the market should be called oil, they are products cashing in on the known oil benefits. The products I do not consider to be true oils are:
    Synthetic polymers – They are essentially plastic
    Mineral oils – Petrochemicals
    Processed Oils – The oil’s various components are separated and then processed in a multitude of ways, the end result is something that does not have the same properties as the original oil but ends up on advertising of the product with the same name. This is done for getting a longer shelf life and of course it is a much cheaper ingredient as it can be extracted from inferior produce. You will find them in almost all your skincare products under the name of ‘Caprylic’ or ‘Capric Triglyceride’.

    When it comes to oil, the only oils that should be used on the skin should be pure vegetable oils.

    R
    eason 2
    For those whose skin loves oil, life is a wonderful journey of oil discovery. With so many skin health benefits on offer from vegetable oils, we can pick and choose depending on what we are aiming to address and improve. Skin feeling a little dry? A little jojoba will fix that. Been out in the sun too much? Avocado oil will replenish and soften the skin in no time.

    However, for those with the tendency to breakout, life is not so easy. Even pure vegetable oils need to be carefully considered, to ensure no adverse reactions.

    We know that good bacteria thrive on oxygen whilst harmful skin bacteria feed on, amongst other things, rancid oil. Bearing that is mind, bringing oxygenated blood to the skin is therefore a good thing (this can be done through exercise and face massage) and ensuring oil does not oxidize on the skin is also smart.

    There are oils with very low oxidizing qualities that also bring great benefits to problem skin, oils rich in linoleic acid and various natural vitamins. A good example is Pomegranate seed oil.
     

    To avoid any oil from going rancid on the skin all Soveral face oils are reinforced with naturally effective antioxidants. 

    Reason 3
    Acne prone skin is high in oleic acid, which is an Omega 9, and the skin over produces oleic acid to make up for the lack of linoleic acid. This extra production of oil by the skin makes the sebaceous glands enlarged and often ends up in pores being clogged and inflammation. The trapped oil inside the pores oxidizes, making it a perfect food for the bad bacteria to feed on.

    The skin needs linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids (Omega 6 and Omega 3) to properly function and build its natural barrier against bacterial invaders.

    The problem is that all oils that contain the beneficial acids also contain oleic acid, so what can we do about it?

    Jojoba is not an oil but a liquid wax that has a very similar composition of that of sebum. Because of that similarity it is recognised in the skin as sebum, the bonus here is that another great benefit of Jojoba is that it is very stable, it does not easily oxidize, so it will not become a food source for the harmful bacteria.  Jojoba does contain a very small amount of oleic acid, but this is in balance with how much the skin should contain. Its sebum-like structure allows this oil to blend with the sebum inside the pore, thus dissolving it and this is a great way to get antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of essential oils into the pores. Simply dilute acne fighting essential oils into jojoba and either use as a skin cleanser or as a moisturising face oil. Take a look at the blending instructions on the Soveral website under Aromatherapy

    For those with very acne prone skin, you may want to remove the jojoba oil after massaging the skin with a warm damp cloth. Do this a couple of times per week to get the skin gradually used to the skin. Once you feel confident your skin is not reacting, you may try leaving the oil on the skin but removing excess oil with a tissue once the face massage is over.

    Shop the blog:
     

    Midnight oil face oil

    Forever Young Face oil

    Jojoba Oil

    Avocado Oil

     

  3. Immune Boosting Tips from Alexandra Soveral

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    14 - Unsplash

    Immune Boosting Tips from Alexandra Soveral

    Some simple steps from Alexandra to ensure your healthiest immune system at home…
     

    AIR
    Air your home and office. Open a window and allow fresh air in every room for at least a couple of hours every day.

    HUMIDITY
    Get a humidity meter, don’t allow humidity to go lower that 45%. Ideally humidity should be around 50% to 60% for good respiratory health and good skin. 

    PURIFY
    Diffuse essential oils in your home. Any diffuser will do, from the fancy electrical ones to the simple tea light ones to which add the drops to the water. This is a great way to purify the air and breathing in essential oils with natural anti-viral and anti-microbial properties.

    STEAM INHALATION
    Practice the traditional inhalation steams to purify and strengthen the respiratory system.  Add 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to a hot bawl of water.  Place a towel over your head and breathe in the aromatic steam. Be cautious of the steam being too hot, it should feel pleasant. If it feels like the steam is too hot on the face or as you inhale, wait until the temperature goes down.

    BATHS
    Add a cup of sea salt (or Epsom salts) to bath water. Then add up to 8 drops of essential oil diluted in either a gentle soap or fat, such as oil, full fat cream or full fat milk. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes.

    BODY OILS
    After showering, whilst skin is still wet, massage a body oil that has beneficial essential oils in it. You can make your own, lots of recipes in Alexandra’s book Perfect Skin, or you may purchase one already made from our website.

    NASAL OIL
    In any vegetable oil, dilute a drop of essential oil such as eucalyptus, rosemary or tea tree. Apply inside each nostril in the morning.

    The best essential oils with anti-viral, anti-microbial and immune boosting properties are:
    Cinnamon
    Oregano
    Eucalyptus
    Lemongrass
    Tea tree
    Rosemary
    Thyme
    Cardamom
    All citrus oils

    To find out about the organic essential oils available from SOVERAL, please contact the clinic on 020 7266 3577 or by emailing soveralsupport@alexandrasoveral.com.