Fresh revelation for your Monday morning!

Happy & Healthy Monday! I will get back to Loving your Liver in my next post. I just had to share the core of what The Detox Diva and MarlyJones.com is all about. It's all summed up in what I read late last night that allowed me one of the best night's sleep in a long while. I so excited I had to share!

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. This is the Apostle Paul sharing how to live in his writings in Galations 5, Message.

Now. Breathe in. Breathe out. Absorb what you just read. Have a blessed day - full of love.

So how's your liver doing these days?

Allergies? Fatigue? Indigestion? Actually I could go on and on. When your liver is congested (yes not just your sinuses get stuffy) all sorts of symptoms will emerge as your body is crying out for a little help. Detox baby! I know...how weird am I that I get excited over cleansing and crowned myself The Detox Diva?
But seriously friends-- to release toxins from the body (physically and emotionally) brings such freedom and wellness to your life! Over the next few posts I am going to talk/explain about liver detoxification & how this works on a physical level, how to prepare your body and support it with nutrition and supplementation, as well as discuss the emotional attributes - which are very fascinating!
First up I'm going to outline just a teeny bit of what your liver does for you.

Your liver:

• Processes toxins
• Destroys bacteria
• Creates cholesterol & even alcohol (yup)
  
• Produces blood proteins
• Manufactures materials needed for clotting blood
• Produces antioxidants
• Controls blood sugar levels
• Stores vitamins
• Produces bile
• Stores a multitude of nutrients & toxins to feed & protect the body

You gotta love your liver. Giving it a little help now and then through a detoxification program is key to keeping it happy. Next up I will intro you to Detox - Phase 1.

Nutrition for Beautiful Skin - it's what's inside that counts!

I have to admit that I have never spent much (or any) money on the nightly and morning ritual of skin care - the eye creams, toners, tighteners, brighteners, etc. Many of these products have ingredients that have some level of toxicity to them (preservatives to keep the all natural ingredients from spoiling) - plus they don't allow the skin to be free and open to cleanse as needed. Some naturopaths more extreme than myself don't use soap at all. It is seen as simply a surfactant (Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, the interfacial tension between two liquids, or that between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.) These strict natural health peeps are going to rely on the loofah sponge to cleanse the skin instead.
Sorry folks but this natural health girl still uses a body wash and/or soap.
One fellow classmate was so extreme in my naturopath degree program that she was oompa loompa orange from all the carrot juice she drank (more on that later) and did not shave her armpits. I'm all for letting the body detox but I simply could not sit next to her because her cleansing and b.o. would make me gag.
So back to my point. It's what's inside that counts. For healthy, clear and radiant skin - you don't have to buy what all the inf0mmercials are selling for 90 bucks an ounce. Go this route instead:

If you really want beautiful skin, do the same things you would do to strengthen your heart, control your weight, lift your mood and live longer and better: Get regular exercise, sleep enough and eat well.

Discovery Health suggests a number of foods to look at if you want a beautiful-skin diet. Here are a few of their suggestions:

Nuts

The benefits of nuts -- especially almonds -- have to do with antioxidant activity. Vitamin E fights skin-aging free radicals, and also helps your skin hold in moisture.

Red and Green Vegetables

Orange-red vegetables are full of beta-carotene. Your body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, which prevents cell damage and premature aging. Spinach and other green, leafy foods provide lots of vitamin A, too.

Citrus Fruits

Vitamin C aids in your body's production of collagen, which is the protein that forms the basic structure of your skin. Collagen breakdown can leave your skin saggy, and vitamin C will help tighten it back up.

Easy & fresh high protein recipe

Do you watch NBC's the Biggest Loser? I do. Love the show. I especially love it about 1/2 way through the season when the emotional detox hits. Layers of toxic emotions are shed quicker than the pounds! I particularly was a fan of Season 8 where two friends from my neck of the woods were contestants and the winner is still the all time winner of the show of most percentage of body fat lost. I particularly appreciate that girl Jillian. Sadly she's no longer on the show (on to other cool projects like The Doctors and more on the horizon via my inside source). BUT I am diggin' the new trainer who gets the job done...Dolvett Quince. He's the bomb.
Here's a fun & easy -fresh & high protein & gluten free recipe compliments of Dolvett...

• celery stalks sliced, garlic, cup of chicken broth saute in pot add cup of quinoa
• sprigs of fresh mint basil and fluff together
• add fresh tomatoes
• serve chilled or warm