• Gluten-free Sourdough Bread Recipe

    Category:
    Gluten-free Sourdough Bread Recipe

    This is an easy gluten-free sourdough bread recipe that you can make with or without a bread machine. I make it both ways depending on how I want to use it or how much time I have to bake. You can even mix the dough in a kitchen-aid mixer if you wish. The only step that takes some pre-planning is feeding your gluten-free sourdough starter ahead of time. I have had good luck with a brown rice or sorghum flour starter for all my bread recipes.

    Bread Machine

    If you are going to use a bread machine, layer all of the ingredients in this gluten-free sourdough bread recipe in the order they are written. Set the bread machine to the French bread setting and you should get good results. Other settings that also work are the “homemade” setting. Some machines even have the option to create your own cycle, I have done that with success as well.

    Kitchen-Aid Mixer

    You can use a kitchen-aid mixer to put together this dough. Add all of the wet ingredients to the mixer and mix until combined. Next, add the dry ingredients and mix for 5 minutes. Let it rest for 10 minutes and mix again for another 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to a greased bread pan lined with parchment paper. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow it to rise for 2-3 hours. If your oven has a “proof” setting, this works great for rising bread. Once your rise time is done, bake at 350 for 50 minutes.

    Gluten-free Sourdough Bread Machine Recipe

    Gluten-Free Sourdough Bread

    This recipe works in a bread machine, a kitchen-aid mixer, or by hand.
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    Ingredients
      

    Instructions
     

    • First, 6-12 hours before baking, feed your sourdough starter.
    • Bread Machine: If you are going to use a bread machine, layer all of the ingredients in this recipe in the order they are written. Set the bread machine to the French bread setting
    • Kitchen Aid Mixer: You can use a kitchen-aid mixer to put together this dough. Add all of the wet ingredients to the mixer and mix until combined. Next, add the dry ingredients and mix for 5 minutes. Let it rest for 10 minutes and mix again for another 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to a greased bread pan lined with parchment paper. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise 2-3 hours. Lastly, bake at 350 for 50 minutes.
    gluten free sourdough bread recipe bread machine

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  • Far Infrared Sauna Benefits

    Category:
    Far Infrared Sauna Benefits

    Wondering about far infrared sauna benefits? If you are interested in natural detox and healing, chances are you have heard about the many far infrared sauna benefits. It is a powerful healing tool to incorporate in your life. 

    Infrared therapy is known to assist with detoxification, relaxation, burning calories, pain relief, anti-aging, skin purification, cell health, and improved circulation. But, do you know how infrared sauna works?

    How Far Infrared Sauna Works

    Infrared sauna is different from a traditional sauna (hot rock sauna) in the way that it creates heat, and it's an important difference. Traditional saunas heat up the air in the sauna to induce sweating while an infrared sauna uses light to create heat through far-infrared rays. Far infrared light heats the body internally, penetrating a few inches deep. This internal warming results vigorous sweating and increased heart rate. Heart rate increases have been compared to a moderately intense cardio workout.

    Types of Infrared Light

    There are three different types of infrared light, Near Infrared Light (NIR), Mid Infrared Light (MIR), and Far Infrared Light (FIR). These three types of light are not visible to the human eye.

    • Near infrared light, with wavelengths between 700 – 1400 nm, generates the most heat but does not penetrate deep into human tissues.
    • Mid infrared light, with wavelengths between 1400 – 3000 nm. It penetrates deeper than near infrared light and generates more heat than far infrared light.
    • Far infrared light, with wavelengths between 3000 nm – 0.1 mm. Far infrared penetrates deepest into the tissues. Its health benefits come from both generating heat and other properties.

    How is Infrared Different from Red Light Therapy?

    Red light therapy and near infrared light therapy fall into different light spectrums. Visible red light falls into the part of the light spectrum between 630-700 nm on the electromagnetic scale.

    Visible red light is used to treat the surface of the skin. It is used for tissue repair of the skin and reducing inflammation. Longer light wavelength, like NIR or FIR have deeper penetration to deliver energy to the cells. Different types of cells and tissue absorb different wavelengths of light.  For example, light vibrating at the blue wavelength (450-495 nm) is healing for the surface of the skin while red light penetrates the more deeply into the body offering different benefits.

    Far Infrared Sauna Benefits

    Far Infrared is the most beneficial type for detoxification. Far-Infrared rays penetrate the skin to gently elevate the body’s surface temperature. FIR has been proven to penetrate deeper into the body tissue than any known form of heat therapy. Research done in the 1960's in Japan and Germany introduced the Far-Infrared thermal technology. The research showed FIR is an effective, safe, and natural approach to heat therapy for wellness. The benefits of using an infrared sauna are cumulative, so consistent use over time will provide more long-lasting results. 

    Best Far Infrared Sauna?

    The best sauna is the one that works for your needs. There are several options when purchasing an infrared sauna and they range in cost from $400 – $10,000 depending on what type and size of sauna you purchase. The sauna options mentioned here are all far infrared saunas because it offers the most health benefits.

    Standing Wood Sauna

    There are many different brands of saunas and some of the best ones include:

    If you are interested in reading real unbiased reviews of saunas I recommend this blog.

    Sauna Blanket

    Anyone who is new to infrared sauna and is not looking to spend $4-10k, a great beginner option is an infrared sauna blanket.

    Infrared sauna blankets are convenient because you can use them anywhere and they easily fold up to put away in a closet when you are not using them. Another great feature is that you can fully lay down in a sauna blanket.

    I have been using the HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket (which I purchased myself). It has helped me get through a painful issue with my shoulder and helps me to detox through sweating. I can always feel a difference in my energy levels when I use it. Read this post, How to use an Infrared Sauna Blanket, for more info on how I use and care for mine.

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  • DIY Coffee Body Scrub

    Category:
    DIY Coffee Body Scrub

    Try this DIY coffee body scrub! Wake up and smell the organic coffee scrub? How can you achieve more youthful, healthier skin? With exfoliation, a really easy way to eliminate discoloration, wrinkles and cellulite. Go one step further and make organic coffee scrubs part of your weekly exfoliation – they’ll make your skin even healthier and more beautiful.

    Vitamin Boost

    Coffee has many benefits for your health and skin. One cup of coffee contains many nutrients, including 11 percent of your daily Vitamin B2 requirements, and 6 percent of Vitamin B5. These nutrients are mostly found in meat products like chicken and beef livers, so they’re not always easy to consume, especially if you’re vegan.

    Scrub Up

    You don’t just have to drink coffee to reap its benefits. There are many great reasons to use a coffee scrub. One is that it reduces the common problem of cellulite. In fact, coffee is found in many skin products and anti-cellulite creams because of its caffeine and antioxidant content. These prevent collagen from disintegrating, keeping skin supple and smooth as a result. Caffeine also dilates blood vessels, which tightens the skin's tissue, while antioxidants release the skin's toxins to make it look healthier. Have dry skin? A quick and easy coffee scrub will make your skin glow! However, to get the most nutritional benefits, you should stick to organic coffee for both consumption and skincare. Organic coffee means that the coffee beans weren’t grown with chemical fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides, so they don’t contain harmful toxins.

    DIY Coffee Body Scrub

    You don't have to go out and buy a new coffee scrub for your face or body. Make your own! This is also a greener option because you won't put your health from all the toxins that are commonly found in beauty products. Best of all, they're really easy to make. Here are two recipes worth trying. Also, don't forget to moisurize your skin after using any body scrub, try making this DIY cocoa butter and rose body butter.

    Coffee Bliss Body Scrub

    • 1 cup of ground organic coffee
    • 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
    • 1 cup of sugar or salt (to provide extra exfoliating benefits)
    • 1/2 cup sweet almond oil
    • 1 teaspoon of honey

    Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl, then add the honey and oil. Stir the ingredients together well so that the mixture is smooth. Store the scrub in a jar so that it's convenient to use when you're in the shower or bath. I've been making my scrubs with similar ingredients except I've been using clay instead of coffee and I love this alternative to switch things up.

    Five Second Coffee Face Scrub

    I've been using this face scrub for months and love how smooth it makes my skin. When I'm in between batches I like to have something easy to mix up and use. A quick and easy coffee scrub can eliminate dryness, especially during the colder months. When dry skin accumulates on the skin's surface layer, it causes skin to become flaky and dull. Any discoloration on the skin tends to linger in these surface cells, too, making skin uneven. By removing the surface layer of dead, discolored skin with a gentle coffee scrub, you bring new, healthy cells to the surface so your skin looks luminous. Best of all, without chemically-infused coffee beans, your organic scrubs will nourish your skin with no side-effects. When you want a quick-fix to dry skin on your face, all you need are two ingredients:

    • 4 tablespoons of olive oil
    • 6 tablespoons of organic coffee grounds – make these very fine so that they won't be too rough for the delicate skin on your face

    Mix together the two ingredients – that's it! Apply it to your damp skin and rub gently for a few minutes before rinsing off. Although the olive oil will soften your skin, be sure to finish off the exfoliating process with a moisturizer to further lock in that smoothness. If you want smoother, brighter skin, coffee scrubs are just what you need to achieve your goals. Best of all, by making the scrubs yourself with easy DIY recipes, you’ll give harsh chemicals found in beauty products a miss in favor of healthier skin.

    Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe to stay in the loop. If you are looking for some of the healthy tools and resources mentioned in my articles, take a look at my healthy shopping guide.

    Some of our links are affiliate links, which means if you click and buy, I earn a small commission. The price is the same for you, though. Thank you!

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