Mushrooms! Good for You. Good for Your Skin.

A few months ago I started taking a Lingzhi mushroom supplements as well as drink a tea  based on Lingzhi (really, it  tastes good). In the picture to the left I am holding a dried Lingzhi mushroom that was given to me when I visited Alphay in Nantong, China, a company that makes organic mushroom supplements. Lingzhi  (Ganoderma Lucidum) has been used for thousands of years by Chinese herbalists. It modulates the immune system and contains anti oxidants. Traditionally it has been used for its anti aging properties. Lingzhi is said to retain and regulate moisture in the skin as well as inhibit formation and deposits of melanin in the epidermis. That sounded like a good reason for using it in one of my skin care products.

Mushrooms have been used in all cultures both as food and medicine. However nobody has been decoding the medicinal properties of mushrooms like the Chinese.

Lingzhi is one of the most treasured of all the Chineese medicinal mushrooms. Today the effects of Lingzhi has been verified by scientific studies. Polysaccharides found in Lingzhi work by enhancing the immune system. Other substances such as tri-terpenoids and ergosterol help reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and modulate blood sugar.

Traditionally the Lingzhi was ingested as a tea or an alcoholic tonic. Today however the Lingzhi is processed with water, alcohol and enzymes and often taken as capsules. In order to get the most benefits from the mushroom it needs to be processed as the active ingredients are not available to the human body by eating the actual mushroom.

Lingzhi is very bitter and is not used for cooking.

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Lingzhi Body Butter is sumptuous and hydrating with a fresh scent of citrus. It penetrates quickly into your skin and helps it stay hydrated all day.

Ingredients: Distilled water infused with Ligzhi Royal Blend Herbal Tea (Lingzhi, Maitake, Shitake and Oyster Mushrooms, Agaricus Blazei  Mushroom Extract, Black Tea), Rice Bran Oil, Emulsifying Wax, Shea Butter, Kokum Butter, Avocado Oil, Vitamin E, Isopropyl myristate, Phenoxyethanol, Capryyl Glycol, Esential Oils of Orange and Grapefruit.

Lingzhi Royal Blend  Herbal Tea is a proprietary tea blend of several mushrooms (see above). Mushrooms are full of antioxidants and helps regulate skin moisture. Lingzhi contains ganoderma acids which helps in the health, immunity and vitality of human skin. The picture to the left is of a Lingzhi  mushrooms that I grew at home.




Kokum Butter also called Goa Butter comes from the fruit kernels of the tree Garcinia Indica. As the name implies it originates in India where it is used to soften skin and restore elasticity.

Orange and Grapefruit Essential Oils- The aroma uplifts the spirit with its sweet tangy smell. Used in aromatherapy to counteract depressed mood.




See my other blogs for description of the other ingredients.

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Skin Care Recipes from the Pantry

Lingzhi Tea face mask.

After drinking Lingzhi Royal Blend Herbal Tea I open the tea bag and use the contents in a face mask. I like to use a mortar to make the mushrooms smooth then mix it with yoghurt and/or banana. If the mask is too thick add some Lingzhi tea. If it is too thin you can add some oat flour. If you do no have oat flour you can run oatmeal in the blender to get a coarse flour.
Yoghurt contains lactic acid that helps to smooth the skin and prevents small lines.
Oats help dry itchy skin.  Leave the mask on for ten minutes or so.

Siri's Kitchen

Edible mushrooms have many health promoting properties. The following is an excerpt taken from the Australian Mushroom Growers Association.

• The mushroom lives in its own biological kingdom. That means it is not a plant, so it has a very different nutrition profile to that of fruit and vegetables.
• The characteristic savoury flavour of the mushroom comes from natural glutamates. With mushrooms in the meal, there is no need for any added flavour enhancers like salt or MSG.
• A serve of mushrooms provides over 20% of the RDI for each of the B vitamins riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, and the minerals selenium and copper.
• Mushrooms have bio-available vitamin B12 on the surface and in the flesh.
• Mushrooms naturally have vitamin D. They are the only non-animal food to have natural vitamin D, generated automatically when they are exposed to light.
• Not only are mushrooms very low in kilojoules and energy density, research reveals that they are filling and dampen the appetite at subsequent meals.
• Australian research suggests that women eating 10g mushrooms or more daily have a 50-65% lower risk of breast cancer compared to those women who don’t eat mushrooms. There are unique compounds in mushrooms that may protect us from both breast and prostate cancer.
• The mushroom has all the attributes of a superfood – nutrient-rich, flavour-rich, low in kilojoules, high in bioactive compounds, antioxidants, covenient and affordable.
• A normal serve of mushrooms is 100g (three button mushrooms or one flat mushroom), a simple and delicious way to get at least one of your 2&5 serves each day for under a $1 a serve.

Stuffed mushrooms 

This is one of my family's favorite mushrooms recipe . There are so many sumptuous ways you can stuff a mushroom. I like to use large portobello or button mushroom. Usually I use what ever i have available to stuff the mushrooms. It might look like this.

Garlic, red pepper, onions or leeks, parsley, mushroom stems, salt, pepper- sauté to your taste of firmness

Fresh bred crumbs, parsley and grated parmesan- add to the above and lightly heat.

Spinach- add to above allow to wilt

Mount the mixture onto mushroom centers. Sprinkle with parmesan. 

Depending on your oven preheat to 350 - 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for approximately 30 minutes.

Bon appetite!


You can buy the Lingzhi Royal Blend Herbal Tea and  Lingzhi mushroom supplements on  www.myalphay.com/siriroy 

Take care of your hands

As a nurse I can attest to the vulnerability of the hands. Mine used to get red, sore and full of painful cracks every winter. I tried all kinds of hand creams. With no relief. No wonder, they mostly contained petroleum derived ingredients and fillers, any natural  oils were listed in the end of the ingredients list.  This inspired me to make White Tea Ginger Hand Cream. The cream has natural oils and butters which are emollients with anti-inflammatory properties in the form of polyphenoles and phytosteroles. Great for dry and cracked hands. I have nothing against man made skin ingredients as long as they do not constitute any potential health hazards. So I have included dimethicone and allantoin in addition to natural botanicals to enhance the creams protective and soothing effect.
White Tea Ginger hand cream has helped my hand stay soft and healed in spite of the use of antiseptic gel and continuous hand washing  through out the day. This cream can be used all over the body when your skin is extra dry.

Ingredients: Distilled Water, Aloe Vera Juice, Emulsifying Wax, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil, Cocoa Butter, Sodium PCA, Capric/Caprylic Triglycerides, Calendula Extract, Isopropyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Pomegranate Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), White Tea Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Ginger Root Extract, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol/Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance.

Avocado Oil contains vitamin E, an antioxidant, as well as sterolins which is said to help in the production of collagen and help reduce age spots. Vitamin A and D is also plenty in this skin friendly oil. The phytosterols found in avocado oil help itchy and inflamed skin. I love this deep green oil ( I know I say that about each and every oil, they are all my favorites, each has its own unique personality).

Sodium PCA is a humectant found naturally in the skin. It draws moisture from the atmosphere to the epidermis. 

Calendula Extract comes from the petals of  Marigold. Calendula has anti-inflammatory properties and has traditionally been used for wound healing. 

White Tea Extract protects the skin by reducing oxidative stress in the epidermis. White tea extract has shown to maintain the immune function of the Langerhans cells in the skin after sun exposure.

Ginger Root Extract might help maintain collagen and helps the skin stay supple and flexible.

Allantoin is a synthetic powder with the same properties as comfrey. It stimulates healthy normal tissue formation and has soothing and anti irritating properties. Perfect for red and sore hands.

Dimethicon is a silicone which forms a protective film over the skin and prevents dermal water loss. Not a bad thing  for  the hands. Dimethicon initially adds a slightly greasier feel. However give it a couple of minutes and your hands will feel soft and smooth.

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Skin Care Recipes  from the Pantry.

You can easily make your own nourishing avocado face mask with a soft mushy avocado. Just mash it with a fork and apply it to your face and neck for 10 to 15 minutes. The avocado can be mixed with other skin nourishing ingredients such as yoghurt, banana, honey, oat flour . If you make too much you can eat the rest.

Siri's Kitchen

Miso Soup with Ginger

If you are in a hurry this is an easy and quick soup to make. I love miso. It tastes great and is so good for you. Miso is a thick paste made from fermented soya beans. Be sure to buy unpasturized miso which contains beneficial bacteria and enzymes. I like red miso. It has a mild but characteristic taste. 

You can make this soup with any of your favorite vegetables. I like to add tofu or fish as well.
A staple in miso soup is the sea weed Wakame. It comes in dry strips or flakes.  Add the miso when the vegetables are cooked. Do not let the miso boil; it will kill the bacteria and enzymes.

Water

Wakame, one table spoon dry flakes, they expand when wet
Onion, chopped in thin slices

Leek, thin slices, use green and white part

Carrot, cut diagonally in thin slices

Cauliflower, cut small

Miso

Juice from grated ginger

Tofu, cubed

Boil water, add wakame and onion, boil until onion is transparent,.
Add the rest of the vegetables and tofu and briefly boil. The vegetables should still be slightly crisp when you add the miso and ginger. Mix a few tablespoon of miso with water from the soup to make a thin paste and add to the soup. Season to your liking with ginger.
Enjoy!

Rich Mocha Lotion

Do you think coffee is only for the pleasure of your palate ?

The whiff and taste of the bitter sweetness of coffee will uplift your spirit! However your skin can benefit from its application as well.

My love for coffee and cocoa inspired me to make this rich sumptuous lotion. The additional shea butter and rice bran oil makes it extra moisturizing.

Ingredients: Distilled Water, Rice Bran Oil, Emulsifying Wax, Glycerin, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Coffee Oil, Iso Propyl Myristate, Vitamin E, Phenoxyethanol/ Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance.

  

Coffee Oil has the wonderful aroma of roasted coffee. It is easily absorbed by the skin and contains antioxidants, phytosterols and essential fatty acids; a perfect moisturizer. 

Cocoa Butter contains natural antioxidants which helps maintain healthy skin. It has great emollient properties keeping the skin soft and supple. The best of all is its mild chocolate aroma.

Shea butter is made from the nuts of the shea tree which grows on the African savanna. Locally the nut is used in both food preparation and skin care. Shea butter is appreciated for its anti inflammatory and emollient properties.

Rice bran oil is made from the rice husk. It contains vitamin E and B. Unique to rice bran oil is y-orizanol, a phytosterol. It is an anti oxidant which can slow down skin aging and reduce age spots.

Skin Care Recipes from the Pantry

For the scrub and mask, I prefer to use unbrewed coffee grounds. The caffein in the coffe has a  temporary skin tightening effect in addition to  reducing micro edema.

Coffee body scrub
Mix coffee grounds, olive oil (or any oil that you like), and sugar to a thick paste. Scrub your skin from neck to toes, rinse off. You do not need to lotion up after this treatment. But if you want absolutely soft skin apply Acojoba Rich Mocha lotion. Your skin will smell like a fresh cup of mocha.
The scrub will make a mess in your shower, but it is worth it.

Coffee face mask
Mix coffee grounds with egg white to form a thick paste. Apply to face. Rinse off after 20 minutes.

Warn your family before applying this mask. I forgot and my husband almost fainted when he saw my face. However he appreciated the effect of the mask. And so did I. It had a firming and smoothing effect which stayed for hours.

Coffee hair rinse
Brew strong coffee (or use left over). Let it cool , apply to hair for 20 minutes then rinse off.

I really enjoyed the effect of this rinse. It added shine and made the  hair less static.

Biscotti with almonds and cranberries

Have a biscotti with your cup of coffee while you wait for your coffee face mask and hair rinse  to do their wonders.  I found this recipe on allrecipes.com As usual I  added and subtracted a few ingredients.

These get the raves from my boys and are gone before I know it, no matter how many I make.

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2- 1/3 cup brown or white sugar ( or a combination )

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (I substituted 1/2 cup of almond flour for the flour)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 1/2 cup roasted almonds

Preheat oven to 300˙ F (150˙ C)

Combine  the first 6 ingredients

Combine flour, baking soda and salt, add to the egg mixture

Mix in cranberries and almonds

Divide dough in two, form two logs on a cooking sheet covered with parchment paper (use wet hands)

Bake for 35 minutes or until light brown. Remove from oven, let sit for 10 minutes.

Reduce oven heat to 275˙F (135˙C)

Cut logs into 3/4 inch thick sticks. Lay on side and bake approximately  8-10 minutes or until dry.

Enjoy!

Ocean Lotion

The Atlantic ocean never stops shaping and reshaping the shores of the small peninsula on which I live.There is nothing better than sitting on the beach just letting the eyes rest on the horizon. I especially appreciate the seaweed deposited on the shores. It is great for the garden.
You guessed right, seaweed is good for your skin as well. It contains minerals and vitamins.

Seaweed has been a staple of Asien cuisine for centuries. I have been eating seaweed in different forms for many years. I always add a strip of Kombu (Laminaria Japonica) when I make soups. It enhances the flavours of the ingredients as well as adding valuable nutrients. Depending on the soup I either keep the  Kombu in the soup or I pick it out and run it in the blender mixed with some water to make a seaweed face mask. When you cook beans add a strip of Kombu to make them more digestible.

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The skin softening Vanilla Ocean  Lotion is inspired by my love for the ocean and seaweed. The fresh smell of vanilla and ocean will uplift your spirit as you apply this skin friendly lotion to your body in the morning. Murumuru butter from Brazil is like silk on your skin. Enjoy!

Ingredients: Laminaria Japonica infused Distilled Water, Safflower Oil, Emulsifying Wax, Evening Primrose Oil, Murumuru Butter, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Pomegranate Seed Oil,  Vitamin E, Cornstarch, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Fragrance.

Safflower Oil is pressed from the 15 to 20 seeds in the plant's flower. It is rich in linoleic acid which restores the skin's barrier function. I love this light and emollient oil.

Evening Primrose Oil helps soothe dry and scaling skin. . It contains gallic acid which helps with skin infections and wound healing. It absorbs quickly into the skin and increase skin flexibility.


                         


 Murumurubutter is pressed from the fruits from the Astrocaryum murumuru tree found in the Amazon. It is rich in  lauric and oleic acid.

Pomegranate Oil contains ellagic acid which reduces the destruction of collagen and function as an anti-inflammatory, prevents wrinkles and photo aging of the skin. Punic acid also known as omega-5 has skin regenerative properties.

Laminaria Japonica Seaweed contains amino acids, vitamins and trace minerals which revitalize the skin. Seaweed has an anti-inflammatory effect

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Arame with leeks and roasted almonds

My favorite seaweed recipe  is Arame with leeks and roasted almonds. Even as young children my boys could not get enough of this dish. It goes well with all kinds of fish and vegetarian dishes.
You can buy Arame in the health food store.

1 1/2 cup  of dry arame
Half a leek chopped in thin slices
1/3 cup chopped roasted almonds
1 table spoon toasted sesame oil
1-2 teaspoons soya sauce
Rice vinegar or any other that you have at hand
Rice malt, honey, maple syrup or any sweetener that you have at hand


Rinse the arame in cold water. Then let it soak in water to cover. After about 10 minutes drain off the water. Heat the oil in a small pan and add the arame. Fry for 4 minutes on medium heat. Add shoyu and a little bit of water, vinegar and sweetener.  There should not be any liquid left when you add the leeks 5 minutes before serving.  You want the leeks to still be crisp and bright green as you put the dish on the table. Add more seasoning to your taste. Add the almonds just before serving.

ACOJOBA - Lotion Magic

   What does alchemy and lotion making have in common?
Magic transformation! 

Simplistically speaking lotion is a mix of oils and water.  However these two do not stay mixed for very long without a little bit of help which comes in the form of an emulsifier. The emulsifier holds the two together. And just as in an alchemic metamorphoses these three ingredients turn into gold - or rather lotion.

My lotions contain natural oils, butters and an assortment of botanical additives. They do not contain formaldehyde, phthalates or parabenes.

Tropical Coconut is a deeply moisturizing lotion with a refreshing coconut fragrance. It penetrates your skin and makes it feel silky soft. Use it on your hands and body every day! 

Ingredients : Distilled Water, Aloe Vera Juice, Jojoba Oil, Coconut oil, Mango Butter, Rose Hip Oil, Honeyquat, Fractionated coconut oil, Iso propyl myristate, Vitamin E, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Fragrance

Aloe Vera Juice is a great anti-inflammatory. It binds moisture to the skin and has skin barrier properties. It helps itchy skin and stimulates cell proliferation.

Coconut Oil is beneficial for all types of skin. It contains ferulic acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties, catechins and lauric acid, which has antibacterial properties. And best of all it is a great moisturizer. It has been used for centuries in remedies for skin and hair. Fractionated coconut oil or caprylic/capric acid has had some of the fatty acids removed to give it a lighter feel with the same moisturizing effect.

Jojoba Oil is actually a wax. It is similar to the body’s own sebum. It penetrates the skin to sooth and moisturize.

Mango Butter offers moisture and a protective barrier to the skin. It is said to have anti inflammatory, anti viral and anti bacterial properties.

Rose Hip Oil. This wonderful red oil has wound healing properties. It contains beta carotenoids, which helps with free radicals. It is said to reduce signs of photo aging and fine lines due to sun exposure.

Honeyquat is made from honey. It is a humectan which increases the moisture uptake ability of your skin.

Go bananas over oatmeal.

I love oatmeal. In the winter I have hot oatmeal with bananas and I always add oatmeal to my home made bread. Sure enough, my oat meal cookies are gone almost before they are out of the owen.

Besides helping to lower your cholesterol, oatmeal is also good for your skin. Oats draw moisture to the skin, softening and healing dry and itchy epidermis. It has an anti-inflammatory effect. Oats contain beta glucan, a group of glucose molecules which in some studies showed to reduce wrinkles and roughness when compared to a placebo group.

My family loves to eat my banana bread fresh right from the oven. Bananas are great on plain yoghurt with a drizzle of honey.

And of course they are good for your skin. Bananas are excellent moisturizers. They also can be used to exfoliate the skin and have a skin tightening effect. Did you know that you can reduce itching from mosquito bites by rubbing the area with the inside of a banana peel?

What is better than  mixing oats and bananas together ?

I am working on a combined exfoliating and mask product made from oat, honey powder and milk powder. The final product will probably have aduki bean powder as well which will add to the exfoliating properties.

Today I mixed the powder with an overripe banana, massaged it into the face, neck and chest area and let it sit for 30 minutes while I was making bread. There were also some left overs which I ate. (I love the idea of edible skin products). My skin felt soft and had a nice glow after the application.
Now I have to find the right packaging.

Other skin care tips using banana and oats;
Mix banana and yoghurt and apply to face for a nourishing face mask.
Add oat flour to your bath water for a skin softening oatmeal bath.

Simple Banana Bread

Mix together:
1 cup (250 ml) dark brown sugar                      
3 ripe bananas
2 eggs
1/2 cup olive oil, or any other oil you like
1 tea spoon vanilla extract
(I use my hands to mash the bananas into the other ingredients, leaving some chunks)

Add:
1, 5 - 2 cups of flour ( I like to mix 50% spelt and 50% white wheat flour )
1 tea spoon baking soda
1 tea spoon baking powder
1 cup whale nuts, optional

Pour mixture into a 9x5 inch loaf pan and bake in the lower part of the owen for around 1 hour or until pin comes out dry, 350 degrees F (180 C).

Enjoy steaming warm!