The Acai Berry -have you tried it?

The Acai Berry -have you tried it?

Ciao bella,

It seems some of us are willing to try anything to shed a few pounds. Well the Acai Berry (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) claimed such a case.

I have to be truthful here—I sent away by computer for a bottle and found it did suppress appetite. But the company wanted me to sign up for a “lifetime” supply with an automatic scheduled delivery and charge to your credit card whether you needed it or not! Beware of the automatic delivery!

So when I went to cancel—that was it! You either signed up forever or for get about it! They were evasive on sending just a single order! So I decided to write about this new and yet not so new harvest of miracle wonders.

The “Fruit That Cries” is a deep purple and can be found growing on certain palm trees in the Amazon rainforests of Brazil. You cannot find fresh Acai Berries outside the Amazon but in other nutritious forms as in dietary supplement capsules, juice, tea, powder and frozen purees. Just a visit to Whole Foods or your fav Earthfood store and you can be turned into an Acai Berry fan easily! It has been known to improve energy levels, sleep functions, skin appearance, circulation, eliminating toxins and of course weight loss. Because the Acai Berry is so rich in protein and glucosamine it can also reduce pain for arthritis sufferers. Also known for it's delicious blueberry/chocolate flavor it has 10 times the amount of antioxidants of red grapes!

The oil derived from the Acai Berry contains many beneficial vitamins including Omega-6 and Omega-9 fatty acids. The oil is also used in age renewal creams, cleansers and face masks, body washes and hair care lines.

Fresh Acai berries/juice are not as potent as supplements which have longer shelf life.

In Brazil, a dish called Acai Bowls Rio Style, or acai ne tigela, is a fav treat and is made using a combo of frozen acai, granola, guarana syrup, and bananas.

Guess it’s time to hit Rio again or a short walk to the store!

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

Give Yourself “HAPPY FEET”—and that’s not all!

Give Yourself “HAPPY FEET”—and that’s not all!

Ciao bella,

A Chinese folk song says that “Feet bath in spring would make one’s body feel as if the sun was rising slowly and the ice dissolves gradually, feet bath in summer will eliminate the illness of fever and complex symptoms, feet bath in fall will get the lungs moistened and the intestines moving, feet bath in winter will give warmth to the acupuncture point of Dantian.” It was the start of a truly unique experience!

As I entered into “heaven” for the next hour and a half my friend Patricia L. was waiting for me sitting in a comfortable cushy chair with pillows and a libation of your choice, I sat in one right next to her. Chinese instrumental music filled the room of soft lighting, warming terra cotta colors and scents of pleasant herbal flowers permeated our cubby! Two welcoming Chinese massagists came out of a private corner of the room and set down (one for each of us) basins of herbal scented warm water to soak our feet. As our feet soaked we had our “dry” massage starting from the top of our head to the base of our backs!

The kinks I had were GONE! I was so relaxed! I felt so “in trust” with my massagist! He then dried off my “Happy Feet” and performed a reflexology type of massage on them! The fruit and sips of tea were delightful! After it was all over Patricia and I swooned over what we had just experienced!

According to Chinese medicine the human body’s health is closely related to the feet. Medical experts from Europe and America also believe the sole of the foot is “the second heart” since the many nerve endings are linked to the brain and all the organs. Soaking the feet for at least 30 minutes improves and facilitates the circulation of blood.

The footbath and the reflexology work together to promote good health and beauty care, nourishing and protecting the brain, supplementing vigor and postponing old age. The combination also will relive fatigue and improve sleep.

Consort Yang Yu Huan (1 June 719-15 July 756) was a high-ranking imperial consort during her time, known as one of The Four Beauties of Ancient China. Consort Yang’s Secret of Beauty would be to cleanse her feet with herbal flowers in the morning and then the Chinese Herb and Foot Massage performed every evening. So let’s skip to that beat and give yourself some “Happy Feet!”

Happy Feet Spa, 150 Lincoln St., 1st floor in Boston (Chinatown), 617-348-2988

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.