Celtic Naturals » weather

Healing Blisters

admin — Mon, 16 May 2011 12:16:03 +0000

Many regions of the United States have seen record rains, leaving many a runner or walker with soggy shoes. Wet shoes have a tendency to stretch and slip, leading to blisters on our feet. Here are a few tips to help the healing process.

Hotspots

Inspect your feet after a long walk or run. Do you see any red or hotspots forming? Use a nutrient rich moisturizer after your shower to support the skin’s healing. For regular use, try our Re-CycleMint Shea Butter Whip. The peppermint will refresh and rejuvenate and the tea tree oil will help keep nasty feet fungi at bay.

Blisters

If you are beyond hot spots and the beginning of blisters are forming, thoroughly wash and dry the affected area. Apply a dab of the Celtic Naturals Chamois Cream, the blend of herbs used in this formula helps reduce swelling, blistering, infections and promotes healing of the skin. Leave socks and shoes off as long as possible. When shoes are required, protect the area from further friction. Tip: If you don’t have a stash of Moleskin(r) immediately handy, try the sticky portion of a Band-Aid(r) applied directly to an unpopped, but small blister. Try to maintain the health of the blister as long as possible. Resist the urge to pop or drain it.

Prevention during Healing

Consider keeping an extra pair of socks in your purse or car. Blisters are deeps wounds in epidermis. Even after the blister has healed externally, it can take months for the area to toughen again. Caring for the blistered area will help it heal more quickly.

If possible, avoid multiple blisters in an area.

Wear alternate shoes to avoid excessive friction
Consider wearing different types of socks
Let the skin toughen slowly. Like building muscles, the skin needs time to heal. Increase distance slowly to give the skin time to toughen without getting damaged.

Questions about blisters? Feel free to mail angela [at] celticnaturals.com with questions!

Quick Brown Bread

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:27:52 +0000

Critical for clear complexions is a healthy diet that is low in complex fats, high in Omega 3, 6 and 9s as well as fiber. Below is my personal recipe for a heart and skin healthy bread that is quick to fix, so you can make it last minute to go with your fall soups for family dinners. In the manner that I’ve put it together, it requires only one bowl for mixing and the bread, so it’s quick to mix and quicker to clean up.

This bread is classified as a quick bread which does not require the slow process of yeast to expand, but contains baking powder. It uses acids to react with the alkaline baking soda to react with one another in the presence of moisture. The resulting bubbles “leaven” the bread, creating a palatable light bread.

Why not give it a try? I’d love to hear what you think!

Ingredients

1 c. plain yogurt

1.5 c. apple or pear sauce

1 c. cornmeal

1 c. all purpose flour

1 c. rye flour

1 c. sunflower seeds

1 t baking powder

1 t baking soda

1 t ground cinnamon

1/2 t salt

2 oz soy or whey protein powder (typically 2 scoops)

2 T flax seeds

Mixing and Baking Instructions

Heat oven to 35o F. Spray standard loaf pan (9″ x 5″ x 3″) with olive oil. Mix yogurt and pear sauce in medium mixing bowl with wooden spoon. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove from pan. Allow to fully cool on wire rack before slicing. (Note: slightly undercooked bread makes for excellent toasting, a great way to quickly sneak in a warm meal during the cool weather months!)

Nutritional Content

Nutrition Facts
25 Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories		105.6

Total Fat		3.3 g

	Saturated Fat	0.4 g

	Polyunsaturated Fat	2.0 g

	Monounsaturated Fat	0.7 g

Cholesterol		0.6 mg

Sodium		192.8 mg

Potassium		123.6 mg

Total Carbohydrate		15.4 g

	Dietary Fiber	2.3 g

	Sugars	2.3 g

Protein		4.4 g


Vitamin A	0.4 %

Vitamin B-12	0.9 %

Vitamin B-6	4.0 %

Vitamin C	0.6 %

Vitamin D	0.0 %

Vitamin E	13.1 %

Calcium	5.8 %

Copper	7.4 %

Folate	7.7 %

Iron	5.8 %

Magnesium	5.5 %

Manganese	18.4 %

Niacin	4.6 %

Pantothenic Acid	5.0 %

Phosphorus	12.2 %

Riboflavin	4.6 %

Selenium	9.5 %

Thiamin	6.0 %

Zinc	4.4 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Personal Environmental Activism

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:04:37 +0000

Do you think the environment is important, but don’t have a spare moment to volunteer? Do you want to pass along strong environmental values to your children? Become a Personal Environmental Activist.

What’s involved?

Make a commitment to the environment.

Find an area of your life you can improve environmentally, ideas incude:

Reduce your use of harsh and toxic cleaning chemicals.
Reduce your personal exposure to toxins by using all natural skin care products.
Increase your recycling efforts.
Eliminate dryer sheets by using dryer balls.
Choose alternative transportation once a week: carpool, bike or walk.

Take action personally.

Share your experience with others.

The list of options above is by no means an extensive list, however, these are excellent first steps. Taking these first initial steps are simple and achievable improvements in your life. Fit these actions into your current life. When they become second nature, reconsider your actions and make improvements accordingly. It’s a reiterative process. We all learn as we go, and the environment will thank us for our efforts.

Congratulations! By becoming a Personal Environmental Activist, you have exhibited two very important characteristics: stewardship and leadership. You have begun the journey of stewardship, showing that you are caring, cleaning, supporting and maintaining the environment. Leadership by example is a very powerful tool. Children and neighbors will see your actions.

Please post your comments below. Take the pledge today. What will you do to become an PEA?

My Triathlon- Life Lessons

admin — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:29:32 +0000

In the spring of 2004, my younger brother entered his first triathlon. I had secretly always desired to complete a triathlon, but had neither time, nor motivation. As a competitive swimmer (and sister!) though, I could hardly let my brother swim away. I entered my first tri in August 2004. I had 4 miles of training on the bike and maybe 15 miles of run training. I was hardly prepared. I was excited. I was scared. Needless to say, the race did not go well. I got banged up on the swim, couldn’t figure out how to get onto the bike and my legs felt like rubber trying to run. My swim was fast, but I still placed last in my age group after that rubber-legged run. It was demoralizing and exhilarating as the same time. I was hooked.

Triathlon training can be a lonely business. I joined the Penn State Tri Club and quickly became integrated into the team. Many come to the sport as a cyclist or runner. I quickly organized team swim sessions and spent many hours on the deck working swim stroke drills with new swimmers. During this time, I worked to create a strong swimming team, but also focused on team spirit. It’s not easy to persuade twenty college students to be at the pool when it opens on a Saturday morning. However, we were was so dedicated that we often had to wait for the lifeguard to show up!

After my first race, I performed a needs analysis on my athleticism: I needed to focus on the bike, the run and nutrition. During this initial period, I spent time learning how to ride a bicycle for long distances without injury. I focused on technique in the run. I set goals for myself. I read articles and spoke to experts. I began to make progress against those needs identified after the first race.

The dedication and perseverance of the training through the winter showed itself in my second race in April of 2005. Competing with PSU down in Florida, I placed second in my age group. I had made great gains by learning the techniques associated with the sport, but still had room for improvement. Continued effort and dedication eventually paid off in Aug. 2005 on the anniversary of my first race, when I improved my race time, winning my age group and beating one of my brothers. (Did I mention they are younger than me?)

I have learned many lessons in my endurance training. I have learned that you can smile even when hurting, a great talent since there are so many cameras on race day! I have experienced how you can support a fellow competitor. Not everyone is going to win the race, but noone finishes who doesn’t start. Through my training, I remembered what I previously valued, but had forgotten in recent years: the beauty of the environment, that work can be fun, that food tastes so much better when you’re hungry. Life is an exciting adventure, you’re never sure what lies around the next corner, but all your training and preparation will help you overcome it. It’s the same at every starting line. What event are you preparing for?

Sun Soother Sugar Polish

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:28:05 +0000

Late in the season, the effects of repeated sun exposure sneaks up on even the most sunblock-conscious individual. Whether your time in the sun is due to exercising, babysitting at the pool, sunbathing, or gardening, your skin is susceptible to drying out and peeling. Maintain a young and healthy glow to your skin using an all natural sugar polish.

Complementing Celtic Naturals’ Sun Soother Line is our new lemon-lavender scented sugar polish. Take about one tablespoon of this wonderfully healthy scrub with sugar, olive oil, vitamin E and essential oils of lemon and lavender with you into the shower. (I use a shot glass.) After washing with your Sun Soother soap, take a finger full of the Sugar Polish and rub lightly on arms and legs. Use a slight circular motion to rub fully into skin. The sugar lightly exfoliates while the oils moisturize and nourish the newly exposed skin. Rinse in the shower and pat dry with your towel.

Enjoy.

Of Stripes and Festivals

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:19:41 +0000

July has arrived, marking the start of summer community festivals and lazy days by the pool or on the beach. Bathing suits, halter tops and alternative cuts in clothing reveal tender skin that has been protected by t-shirts and business suits year-round. There are two solutions to avoid unseemly tan lines (or burns!)

Traditionally, many people have spent hours in the sun or tanning beds trying to build up a “base tan.” A tan is your skin’s natural reaction to UVA and UVB radiation. Your body is trying to protect itself from harmful effects by creating a barrier. The tan, however, is the first sign of sun damage to your skin.

Alternatively, applying sun block with a minimum rating of SPF 15 can prevent the development of premature skin aging as well as unsightly stripes and tan lines. For active sports, choose a water proof sunblock. After swimming or vigorous sweating, reapply sun block. For healthy choices in sun block, see the Environmental Working Group’s 2010 Sun block report.

Conscientious and regular application of sun block will allow you to fashionably wear many cuts of clothing without unseemly tan lines. Keep you and your loved ones safe and beautiful!

Spring Cleaning

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:00:50 +0000

Have we all survived the winter? Spring is in the air and Celtic Naturals has many changes to announce.

We are excited to announce another local retailer in Central Ohio. Welcome, Clintonville Outfitters! They are retailing hand sanitizers, bar soaps, stainless steel water bottles and lip balms. All of them are good for you and for the environment. Check them out. You can smell great on your next camping trip.

Celtic Naturals is also announcing a new web address in coming weeks. We have officially secured the domain www.celticnaturals.com. Yes, that’s right, without the hyphen. We are very thankful that we can provide you simple communications. Our Twitter, Facebook and web addresses will now be consistent. Stay tuned for progress.

We will also be launching a new store. We have heard your requests. In an attempt to make your shopping experience more pleasurable, we will begin using a new online store system. You will still be able to find all of your favorite products, but hopefully, you will find them more quickly and easily. We really are looking forward to hearing your feedback on this. More information as we move forward.

Humidity and Your Skin

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:44:09 +0000

Do you have a hygrometer in your home to measure humidity? You can get an easy digital one that reports temperature and humidity. More expensive versions report the pressure and predict weather patterns. More importantly, why do you want one and how does it relate to skin care?

I know that the weather turns cold and dry in various parts of the world because my phone starts ringing and my inbox becomes flooded. People confide to me that each winter, their skin dries out. No amount of lotion seems to do the trick. What can they do?

Here are some fantastic, all natural tips to help you deal with the current weather situation facing most people in the United States right now.

1. Problem: Low humidity in the home. Our home recently registered 20% humidity. Although the hygrometer runs regularly, I didn’t pay attention until my cuticles started taking a beating. Solution: Install a humidifier, at minimum use a room humidifier for the nights. Recommended humidity in the home should be around 40-60%. This level of humidity allows the skin to hydrate and does not dry out those precious mucous membranes that protect you from viruses. It also also not so high that it promotes fungal or bacterial growth. If you only experience periodic dips in humidity in your home, consider trying these cost-effective options:

Strategically place water near your heater vents (assuming you don’t have a dog: I never had luck with this method when my golden retriever was alive.)
Keep a battery of house plants.
Leave an inch of water in the bathtub.

2. Problem: Dry skin after showering. Solution: Examine your soap as well as your shampoo. Always use an all-natural soap that has not been purged of glycerin, as most commercial products have been. Not only is this good for the environment, but it’s a great step for your skin! It is extremely difficult to find an all-natural shampoo that works for all hair types and lengths. If you have not yet delved into the “No ‘poo” world (nor ever intend to do so), at minimum re-examine your shampoo. Make certain it is not the drying agent in your skin care. For extreme skin sensitivities, wash your hair in the sink and avoid skin contact with the shampoo.

3. Problem: Biting dry wind. Outdoors activities, including commutes expose our skin to dessicating winds. Solution: Cover up, not only with clothing but with all natural protective lotions. The absolute cheapest option is to “oil up” with olive oil, but olive oil is best when used on the body and not the face. Choose a heavier-than-normal lotion for exposed areas, such as face and hands, and keep the lip balms handy. We recommend Re-Cycle Mint Lip Balm for such occasions. Check back soon for the commercial introduction of our lotions. In the meantime, some few lucky individuals are testing them here in Central Ohio. At 20% humidity, I hope they feel protected!

4. Problem: Dry skin, dry lips. Solution: Drink more hydrating liquids. Primarily, this means water. Sorry coffee lovers, but until your skin becomes balanced and hydrated, now is the time to avoid all diuretics. Skip the coffee, skip the soda. It’s time to drink herbal tea and water.