Naturally Healthy Living in Spain

The fresh cherries are on the market stalls now from as little as 2 Euro a kilo. They are my favourite fruit along with strawberries, and they have many health benefits.

Fights disease

Like all highly coloured fruits and vegetables, cherries are very high in antioxidants, so theycan reduce the risk of cancer, particularly cancers of the organs. Cherries also have anti-inflammatory properties, so they can ease the symptoms of lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. 

Cherries are also a good source of quertecin, which helps to prevent heart disease. And the high potassium content of cherries can help in treating diseases of the auto-immune system and connective tissues. Cherries can also help to regulate blood sugar levels, which is good news for diabetics.

Natural pain relief

Cherries are actually more effective than aspirin and ibuprofen for reducing inflammation and relieving pain. Many athletes eat cherries to reduce the effects of pain from muscle damage. The anthocyanins present in the fruit are powerful painkillers, and can also ease the pain of headaches and fibromyalgia.

Good for weight loss

Cherries are low in calories and high on fibre and water, so they are a diet friendly food. They also boost the metabolism, which helps in weight loss. And because cherries are sweet, they also satisfy sugar cravings without adding significantly to calorie intake.

Good for bone health

Cherries have very high levels of boron, which is essential for healthy bones.

Good for digestion

Cherries are high in fibre, so they can help relieve constipation. They are also low on acid, so they are a good food choice for people who suffer from heartburn and other digestive disorders.

Aids restful sleep

The melatonin in cherries promotes restful sleep and improves memory function. Melatonin is often used in supplement form to treat jet lag, so a handful of cherries should give you a good night's sleep.

Natural anti-aging product

The antioxidants in cherries mop up the free radicals which cause cell damage. So eating cherries can help you to look younger by slowing down the natural aging process.

Cherries are small, but the health benefits are mighty. What tastes good isn’t always good for your health, but when it comes to cherries, you can eat as many as you like, knowing that they're good for you. And here in Spain, they’re really cheap as well!

Since meeting Deborah Baker for my blog post about her skin company, Naturally Mediterranean, I’ve tried out a couple of their products, and I thought you might be interested to know how I got on. I was a bit sneaky in that I got a friend to order the stuff for me, but I wanted to be sure my review was totally unbiased, and that I got the same service as anyone else ordering from the website or through Amazon.

I ordered Naturally Mediterranean Magic Hair Oil and Body Silk with argan oil, because it sounded like a miracle all-purpose product that you could use for your hair, skin and nails. Nothing is really that good – or is it?

My main interest in the product was what it might do for my hair – which is like wire wool after a summer swimming in the pool and the Mediterranean, and is only just about recovering by spring, when I’m ready to go back into the water. I also wanted to see if it could heal the scratches I’ve acquired as collateral damage from my boisterous Border Collie cross puppy, Paddy.

First the hair. I must say I was sceptical that only a drop or two of this stuff could make a difference - especially as I have long, thick hair – but I thought let’s give it a try anyway. When all else fails, read the instructions, as they say, so I rubbed just 4 drops of oil into my hair, wrapped it in an old scarf, and left it overnight.  Next morning, I shampooed as usual, and this hardened freelance writer was amazed at how soft and silky my hair felt after just one application. It wasn’t just my imagination either, because the friends I met for lunch that day thought I'd had a salon treatment!

It’s also worked a treat on my Paddy scars. I have Lupus, so I don’t heal easily, and even my trusted aloe vera gel straight from the plant was having a problem erasing the evidence of Paddy’s undying affection and boundless energy, but in a matter of 3 or 4 days, my arms and legs were almost completely healed.

I’ve also been using a drop each morning as a facial moisturiser, and it seems to have evened out my complexion tones in just a few days, as well as giving me a really healthy glow. I really can’t believe that a product with absolutely no chemicals can be so effective on my skin and my hair.

At £19.95, it’s not cheap, but a little goes a long way, and in any case, it’s an all purpose product, so you really don’t need anything else. I’m certainly a convert. You can find out more about Naturally Mediterranean Magic Hair Oil and Body Silk on the company website, and there is lots of information about natural skin care too.

I'm very much into natural skin care, partcularly since I've lived in Spain, where all the best things you can use on your skin are so much cheaper. For example, olive oil is great for skin and hair care, while honey is also a beneficial ingredient for home skin care remedies.

And then there are strawberries. Not only are they full of antioxidants for general health, they also have anti-inflammatory properties. I manage to restrain myself from eating them all though, because strawberries are great for home made beauty treatments. To slough off dead skin cells, just cut a large ripe berry in half, rub it all over your skin and wait for a few minutes. Then wash your face and marvel at how soft and smooth your complexion is. That's down to the alpha-hydroxy acid in the strawberries - it's a natural exfoliant. You can find more excellent strawberry skin care recipes here. Whether you want to condition your hair, treat hard skin on the feet or even whiten your teeth, you can do it with strawberries. And of course, the strawberry season is long here in Spain, so there's always plenty of availability.

That's just one example of how the everyday foods we eat can also be used for natural skin care, and of course the great thing with natural ingredients is that they are unlikely to cause any problems, unless you happen to have an allergy or intolerance to something. I'm always on the lookout for natural skin care recipes and tips, so I was delighted when I found a Facebook page which is full of useful information.

I Love Natural Skin Care has only been on Facebook for three months, yet it's teeming with hints, recipes and information. It's all there in bite-sized snippets, so it's easy to take in and remember. I don't know about you, but I hate it when I'm faced with a long, technical article on skin care. It's a complex subject, so to understand how things work, you need to absorb it gradually to get the most benefit - just like skin creams really!

Check out this page and let me know what you think about it. It's not a business or a sales page, so all the information is unbiased. Too often you start to read what you think is a disinterested article on skin care, and it turns out to be nothing more than a sales pitch for some product or other. The most refreshing thing about I Love Natural Skin Care is that the page owners are not trying to sell anything.

I love it when people use the Internet for passing on information rather than just marketing their stuff, because that's the philosophy behind my blogs. I love to research and write, and pass on what I find out. If I pick up a few writing commisions as a result that's great, but it's not my main motivation. I Love Natural Skin Care is a bright, informative page which anyone who has an interest in natural skin care should bookmark. There really is some great stuff on there.