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Natural DIY Air Freshener

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Try this Natural Air Freshener made with Cinnamon Sticks, Clove and Apples.

Typical air fresheners sold that are marketed to help freshen the air in your home do not actually clean the air or eliminate odor, they are just masking the bacteria and odor. Second off, the air “fresheners”  have many chemicals in them that are hazardous toward your health. Phthalates (pronounced thal-ates) are used in many consumer products and are harmful chemicals known to cause hormonal imbalances, birth defects, and reproductive problems when inhaled overtime. The Natural Resources Defense Counsil did an independent testing of 14 common air fresheners. None of which listed phthalates as an ingredient but uncovered these chemicals in 86% of the products tested, including those advertised as “all natural” or “unscented”.

My DIY Natural Air Freshener’s Benefits: Cinnamon helps cleanse the air due to its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Clove is a powerful immune system booster and antioxidant.

If you want to take a closer look at some of the chemicals and hazards in commonly sold air fresheners, such as Febreeze check out this article.

Resources:

“Essential Oil Blends That Are Helpful to Clean the Air – BellaSentials.”BellaSentials. 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.
“NRDC Protect Your Family From the Hidden Hazards in Air Fresheners.” NRDC. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.

 

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Natural DIY Eyeliner

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Activated Charcoal and Jojoba Oil Eyeliner

Ingredients:

  • Activated Charcoal
  • Jojoba Oil (a few drops)
  • Water (optional)

Directions:

  • With a thin brush, dip brush into mix and apply to eyes.
  • Clean brush after to avoid buildup with Coconut oil (or Olive, Avocado etc.)
  • You have the option of adding water or adding more Jojoba oil depending on what texture you like. I ended up adding more Jojoba oil to my mix. This eyeliner is great for blending in a smokey eye.

A few people asked me if Activated Charcoal was safe to put on your eyes. I think they heard the word “Charcoal” and immediately thought of Charcoal from a fire. Charcoal and activated charcoal are different. Activated charcoal means the carbon is infused with oxygen and is prepared for human ingestion and skincare products

I got this into my eyes because I did not dilute the charcoal enough with jojoba oil. I had the same reaction (tearing) as if I got a store bought mascara/eyeliner into my eye. To avoid this, make sure you have enough jojoba oil or water mixed in the the charcoal on your brush where it the charcoal powder is not loose.

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Diffuser -Homemade & Natural

IMG_2967Stop breathing in chemicals and start breathing in oils that are beneficial to your health.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup almond oil
  • 8 drops each of cinnamon, mandarin orange &  lavender essential oil
  • Wooden sticks (from Michael’s)

You can make the scent personally tailored to your wants and/or needs. For example, you can make essential oil blends to ward away bugs during summer months, uplift your mood or help relax you before bed. The options are endless.

I used to use mostly designer cosmetic brands, but these are often the most toxic. It’s okay to have them for show, or to re-use their containers, but I don’t plan on buying more.
One of the most common chemicals in air fresheners are Phthalates. Phthalates are chemicals that are used to prolong the length of time that scented products maintain their fragrance. Regular exposure to phthalates can increase your risk of experiencing endocrine, reproductive, and developmental problems.

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Reason to Avoid Fruit Juice & Go Green

IMG_2969One advantage of juicing is that it takes the fiber out of the food. This gives your digestive system a break and helps your body absorb the substances in your juice much faster. This is good when your juice is filled with vitamins and minerals from green juices. This is bad when your juice is filled with (natural) sugars.

When fiber is taken out of your fruits, the sugars are delivered to your bloodstream in a much faster manner, causing a bigger sugar rush and larger insulin spike (insulin is the hormone that regulates sugars in the blood). The sugars if not used up right away with say running a few miles, get stored up as fat. Causing this spike to happen repeatedly disrupts your metabolism, can cause weight problems or blood sugar-related illnesses. If you take the time to look at the back of a bottled juice that has both fruit and veggies in it, many have 25g, 35g, or more of sugar in the drink. This is around or exceeding the sugar amounts you should intake daily. Carrots and beets also contain a lot of sugar, so do not go excess with these sweet root vegtables either.

If you do decide to include fruits in your juices, green apples and berries are the best option with the least amount of sugars. Stay away from pineapple.

I really like this drink from Ellary’s Greens in the West Village, NYC because for me, the cayenne pepper gives it that extra kick and helps trick my taste buds into not craving something sweet.

Ingredients:

  • Celery
  • Cucumber
  • Green Apple (sometimes I take this out)
  • Cilantro
  • Ginger
  • Cayenne Pepper

 

References:

Eric Helms, 2014, The Juice Generation, NY, New York, Simon & Schuster

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Kombucha Fruit Smoothie

Mix frozen fruit and unflavored Kombucha in a blender for a drink, snack or dessert. I like to buy the “original” Kombucha flavored because I don’t trust how the Kombucha in a bottle is flavored. Most people buying Kombucha are trying to be healthy so to me it doesn’t make sense to buy something that might be flavored artificially.

Kombucha aids digestion and health gut. It is naturally fermented with a living colony of bacteria and yeast. Kombucha is a probiotic drink. Some benefits include improved digestion, fighting off candida (harmful yeast) overgrowth and mental clarity. For more benefits click here.

Please be aware if you are pregnant or have any major health concerns, consult with your doctor before drinking Kombucha since it changes your gut bacteria.

Also, be aware that Kombucha is acidic and can effect the enamel on your teeth. If your drinking Kombucha, drink it in one sitting rather than sipping it throughout the day. Swish with clean water (don’t brush) right after to minimize the acidic effects. OraWellness touches on this more.

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References:                                                                                                                                         “Food Renegade.” Food Renegade. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.                                                                    “How To Drink Kombucha And NOT Destroy Your Teeth.” OraWellness Blog Raquo. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

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Natural Antibiotic Tea

Ingredients:

  • Raw Manuka Honey
  • Black Pepper* (Not in photo)
  • Turmeric
  • Coconut Oil
  • Ginger
  • Lemon
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Garlic
  • Oregano

*Ground black pepper must be used with Turmeric in order to activate the Curcumin in Turmeric which has anti-inflammatory properties.

These ingredients combined makes a strong all natural antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory tea.

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