1. For insomnia + sleeplessness: rub a little over your eyelids before going to bed. Will bring a feeling of deep relaxation for a peaceful slumber.
2. Eyelash treatment: can condition eyelashes making them thicker and healthier; simply massage a drop (a little goes a long way) of castor oil on your lashes carefully each night, avoid getting into eyes. Wash off in the morning with a mild facial wash.
3. Eyelash treatment #2: fill a container with ¼ castor oil, ½ vitamin E oil, and ¼ aloe vera gel. Mix and apply a light layer to lashes every night before bed. After a month you will notice stronger, longer lashes. You can also apply this mixture to your eyebrows.
4. Eyebrow growth: applying castor oil to your eyebrows will help them grow long and thick. Apply before going to bed to leave on overnight.
5. Makeup remover: apply to a cotton ball or a q-tip, either 100% or half castor oil and half olive oil, to swipe off make-up easily
6. Stretch marks: massage into stretch marks and over time old marks will fade.
7. Reduce cellulite: blend castor oil with grapefruit, lemon, cedar and lavender essential oils and rub the mixture into your skin.
8. Scars + burns: use to treat cuts and scrapes and prevent scarring, new and old. Soak a soft absorbent cloth with castor oil and lay it on the scar, for very serious scars do this for two hours (if you have the time).
9. Deep condition hair: massage castor oil into dry have until saturated. Put on a shower cap and sleep with the oil in your hair, when washing out in the morning apply the shampoo before wetting hair.  
10. Healthy hair + scalp: massage castor oil into the scalp and roots of the hair, regular massage can lead to faster and newer hair growth as well as prevent dry scalp
11. Darken hair: using castor oil will make your hair just the slightest bit darker by applying oil on your scalp
12. Grow hair: leave on for thirty minutes and then wash off to grow long, thick, shiny hair and prevent hair loss. You can also add olive oil or coconut oil to the mixture.
13. Hair loss: rub castor oil onto your scalp and at the roots of your hair, known to regenerate new hair growth within months.
14. Add shine + reduce frizz: put a teaspoon worth onto a comb and brush it through dry hair. This is especially helpful during dry winter months.
15. Treat acne: before bedtime, open pores with a warm wash cloth then massage a small amount of castor oil into your skin and leave overnight.
16. Deep treatment for acne: fill your bathroom sink or bowl with hot water, drape a towel over your head and allow the steam to penetrate your pores for 15 to 20 minutes. Apply a small amount of castor oil to skin and leave overnight.
17. Moisturize skin: massage castor in circular motions after washing your face, will hydrate without clogging your pores. Can also use to moisturize your lips.
18. Moisturize feet: you can slather castor oil onto dry heals and feet to help moisturize them.  
19. Fast acting laxative: mix castor oil with orange juice or other juice directly before consuming and do not use at bedtime, as it works faster than other laxatives.
20. Intestinal cleanse: when ingested castor oil acts as a laxative that cleans out not only the lower but also the upper intestine, the expelling of this waste can allow a person to drop a few superficial pounds in a hurry and can help kick off a healthy diet and weight loss plan. Measure 2 oz. of castor oil (measure carefully as ingesting too much can induce vomiting and severe stomach cramps) and mix with 8 oz of fresh fruit juice (100% fruit juice, not juice cocktail or from concentrate). Drink the mixture and allow five hours to take effect, repeat once daily for up to five days only to clean out your intestinal tract. Decrease usage to once a month for digestive maintenance.
21. Mole and wart removal: cleanse location of mole and dry, put castor oil on the mole with a cotton swab and cover with band-aid. Repeat this procedure twice a day (in the morning and before bedtime) for one month. Or you can also apply a hot towel onto the mole for a minute, apply the castor oil and then reapply the hot towel for another minute. You can try doing this for about ten minutes two to three times a day.
22. Wrinkles + under eyes: rub in a small amount around your eyes and onto face before bed. Done daily this will prevent wrinkles and keep skin youthful and plump. Castor oil is an ingredient in several anti-ageing, under eye, and wrinkle creams.
23. Liver detox: apply to abdomen and place heating pad or hot towel on top for two hours, one to seven times a week. The castor oil stimulates both phases of liver detoxification and helps liver function.
24. Pain relief, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification: the main component of castor oil produces significant pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effects and is easily transmitted through the skins surface and into lymphatic circulation supporting detoxification pathways in the body.  To do this make a castor oil pack! Fold a flannel two to three times over your abdomen, especially covering the upper right side. Saturate the flannel with castor oil, put in a glass dish and place in the oven until warm to the touch. Lie on top of one towel (to prevent staining) and place the flannel on abdomen. Cover it with plastic and another towel and place a hot water bottle or a heating pad on top. Keep covered with a sheet and blanket to stay warm. Leave the pack in place for 45 to 60 minutes. 

and some tips for use...

•  To remove castor oil from skin use a solution of 1 tsp or baking soda with 1 pint of water
• When sleeping with castor oil on face or hair best to wrap up hair or sleep on a towel as stains from castor oil are almost impossible to remove.
• When placing castor oil onto face try mixing 1 part castor oil with 2 parts grapeseed oil or jojoba oil for cleansing and moisture.
• When applying castor oil to hair: castor oil is very thick and viscous so if you have fine or weak hair you should mix castor oil with a lighter oil so it will be easier to wash out later. Olive oil and coconut oil are your best bets. Try 1 oz castor oil and 2 oz coconut oil. To wash out best to apply shampoo to dry hair first 

1. Tea: Try drinking green, chamomile, or black. Loaded with antioxidants they boost immune function, fight cold and flu, and destroy cell-damaging free radicals.
2. Zinc: have 15 to 25 mgs of zinc a day as some consider it the single most important nutrient for maintaining optimal immune function. It can be found in red meat, poultry, beans, nuts and fortified cereal.
3. Almonds: are full of vitamin E which helps boost the immune system by increasing the amount of the body's cells that destroy germs. 
4. Broccoli: helps mucous membranes form to protect your body from damage by repelling environmental threats. It also contains vitamin A, C, and glutathione, all of which are known to help boost immunity. 
5. Vitamin C: Studies found that people who take vitamin C experience 45 to 91 percent reduction in common cold incidence while most people find them in citrus fruits, strawberries actually have a higher vitamin C concentration. 
6. Fiber: helps to support the production of white blood cells that fight bacteria. Fiber also allows your body to absorb immune boosting nutrients. Try a bowl of steel-cut oats with flax-seed. 
7. Mushrooms: contain beta-glucans known to enhance immunity. They also contain selenium, deficiencies in this nutrient are linked to developing the flu.
8. De-Stress:  Try yoga, tai chi, or meditation. Stress causes the immune system to be more susceptible to the common cold and other viruses. 
9. Watermelon: The antioxidant glutathione found in watermelon helps fight and fortify cells against infections. 
10. Yogurt: Yogurt containing "live and active cultures" may reduce your changes of getting a cold. 
11. Simple sugars: avoid them! Sugary foods and sugary juices can impair immune function.
12. Vitamin D: linked to immune function and regulation, deficiency increases the risk of infections. Few foods contain vitamin D and its best to get your dose from short periods of sun exposure without sunscreen.
13. Garlic: several antioxidants found in garlic battle immune system invaders. It has strong anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal qualities. 
14. Capsaican: studies have shown that capsaican, the substance that makes hot peppers hot, can fighting colds before they start when taken daily by increasing your
15. Echinacea: this supplement stimulates production of white blood cells. It has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-viral powers that strengthens the body's natural immunity. It can be found in teas or taken as a supplement.

Ladies and gents its the Sunday night of a great week. We've all made healthy food choices we're proud of, worked out, and kept up our motivated and positive attitudes when we had a slip or felt down. With that being said we all not only deserve a pat on the back, but to treat ourselves to something indulgent and delectable. It is important to indulge your cravings, in moderation of course. In fact, feeling deprived can actually trigger overeating and often when foods feel off limits you just want them more - eeek.

So have some dark chocolate! Something with 60% cocoa is healthiest, but I must say my favorite little indulgence is Jell-O Dark Chocolate Mousse Temptations at only 60 calories a piece.

And just to reassure that you're making the right decisions here are the health benefits of dark chocolate:

1. Reduces cholesterol 
2. Lowers blood pressure
3. Improves blood flow
4. Reduces stress
5. Elevates serotonin levels - they make you happy
6. Strengthens the immune system
7. Lowers diabetes risks
8. Contains those magical antioxidants
9. Linked to improved cognitive functioning
10. Fights aging

Drinking milk with dark chocolate negates its health benefits by interfering the absorption of antioxidants (AHHH) so avoid combining the two.

And just remember that dark chocolate can still be high in calories and fat so moderation is KEY.