Say NO to plastics!

What is BPA anyway?  Bisphenol A aka BPA. I believe the FDA just banned this chemical that has been used in plastic packaging and what not but I wanted to share this tad bit of information because most people might not be aware of this.  It has not yet been confirmed but BPA can have possible effects on the brain, hormones, heart problems, and increase risk of cancer.  We are said to have a lot of BPA in our bodies right now due to the accumulation of using plastic containers that we eat or drink from and even inhale!  If you think about it, almost everything includes the use of plastic, and this chemical! Although most companies are now stating their products are "BPA Free" the replacement of this chemical may still have the same affects as BPA if not worse. 

Here are some tips to combat this if you must use plastic:

- Don't heat your food in a plastic container
- Use less canned foods or package products
- Avoid plastic with number 3, 7, or 2, and 4 recycle codes

Last but not least avoid ALL plastics if you can of course, you will not be consuming BPA if you use glass, porcelain, or stainless steel.

Xo

Juice it or Blend it?!

That is the question! Ok so I had to get to the bottom of this since its such a trend right now and only because I am curious and would like to do things the right way if I'm going to do it.  I see this all the time, where juiced or blended fruits, and veggies are suppose to be of some health benefit to you.  Whether you want to lose weight cleanse your system or just get your nutrition in a bottle.  After much research, both are beneficial to the human body in their unique way! Juicing removes indigestible fiber from fruit and vegetables and extracts the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients in juice form.  This helps absorb the nutrients faster into our bloodstream leaving the fiber out and helps cleanse our liver. Blending however includes all fiber and nutrients from the fruit and vegetables.  By preserving the fibers, blended drinks help the digestive track by pushing out toxins and leaving you with the good bacteria in our gut needed for a healthy and regular digestion.  There is still debate whether some blenders create too much heat and destroy the enzymes however some researchers have found that to be the opposite! Regardless, I invested in a cold press juicer and a good quality blender.  To get the most benefit out of this I juice on an empty stomach, usually in the mornings and blend when I need something hearty during meal time. (My book coming out soon will give details on how to prepare nutritional food to help shed pounds, get rid of toxins in your body and support a healthy digestion system)

 

Xo,

healthy living

M

Cleanse and exfoliate!

Currently my two favorite products I use that brings back life into my face are:



Vibrating Cleanser



Microdermabrasion Scrub

 I apply a dime size of the derma e microdermabrasion scrub on the foaming pad (disposable) that is attached to the wave then I gently massage over my damp face.  I make sure my face and the foaming pad is somewhat wet to activate product.  Immediately after you rinse your face you will feel a difference.  The texture of your skin will be soft and smooth as it scrubs away dull surface cells.  Applying foundation afterwards (which I don't recommend) gives you a flawless airbrushed look.

xo
M

Hello deep REM sleep Zzz

The most favorite part of my bedroom is my bed! Starting off with my pillow... I always was very picky about where my head would rest as a child. Over the past couple years I don't even put my head against a pillow anymore I just sleep resting my head flat on my bed.  Of course that resulted into having a sore neck in the morning and poor sleep.  After a few pillows later I realized which works best for me.  I've narrowed my search down to the "natural latex pillow"  its extremely comfortable and flexible. I use the shredded version which is literally shredded latex. You can shape it however you want and make it as firm as you want.  Although natural latex absorbs moisture its hypoallergenic and anti-microbial which prevents mold and mildew.  My second favorite is the kapok pillow it reminds me of goose feathers. The fibers come from a tree that gives it a silk like feeling and keeps away moisture.  If you are more old fashioned organic pure wool is another good pillow to rest your head.  Again, you will get a dry sleep it locks heat yet keeps away moisture something you can use all year round summer and winter. It keeps your head cool which means less tossing and turning and more sleep!  All my pillows and bedding have been purchased online for organic purposes. 

My Crest bright white smile

My ritual of getting a white smile consists of two to three products over the counter. You can use two of the three it just depends on  how proactive you want to be and the results you are seeking.  First off I stick to a soft brush and Crest products. 

Products:

Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Toothpaste
Crest 3D White Multi-Care Whitening Rinse
Crest 3D White-strips

All three products used together will give you the best results

At first I put my toothpaste on my toothbrush (my next blog post will be details on my toothbrush - yes my toothbrush needs a blog post of its own) and brush my teeth with NO water.  This is the trick, and I repeat NO water.  Its like polishing your teeth kind of like what they do when you get a cleaning at your dentist office.  Takes a while to get use to if you brush with water.  I rinse my mouth after I dry brush my teeth and then I use the Whitening Rinse which does magic! I love this product.  If I had to choose one of the three it would definitely be the mouthwash- it even kills bad breath!  I use the white-strips from time to time if I need extra oomph. 

Love this product!

My homemade antibiotic

I no longer take prescribed antibiotics unless its a deadly must! I mix my own homemade remedies and here are my ingredients:

Garlic - a must! ( I put 3 cloves)
1 Lemon
Oregano oil
Black walnut hull - can be purchased as powder or oil
Ginger - blended to almost watery like form (2 tbsp.)
Honey
Peppermint
Olive leaf extract
Echinacea- I purchase this as tea bag

Happy healthy system!
M

Best way to get rid of a cold or flu is to prevent it!

It's that time of year again where everyone around you is sick and even your next door neighbor is offering you a flu shot. I never got a flu shot and I plan to keep it that way for the rest of my life.  However, I have learned that I need to maintain a healthy immune system all year round to avoid getting any kind of virus.  The most common cause of a flu or cold is viruses and getting antibiotics when you have a virus is not going to help you kill it nor will it make you get better any faster.  Antibiotics should only be used to treat a bacterial infection it does not cure a virus unfortunately.  The first 48 hours is crucial to control and reduce the length of your cold and symptoms therefore you can try home remedies as soon as you feel any symptoms. Trick is to boost your immune system and make it stronger. Here are a few home remedies:

One of my favorite remedies is vitamin C as we all know- but you want to make sure you get the correct amount.  Daily dose of vitamin c should be 4,000 mg a day but when your body is in stress it can double or triple that amount needed. 

Drink lots of fluids and Echinacea tea or green tea helps decongestion and can shorten length of cold.

Eat potassium rich foods and garlic :)

Vitamin B and D - D3 to be more specific helps immunity

Probiotics - for the long run will help you prevent a cold as well

Rest - sleep


Only reason I would visit a doctor is to make sure my vitamin dosages are in tact which will help your immune system.  And no, being exposed to cold temperature will not get you "sick" as every mother might think or say :)

xo
M