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Homemade and Healthy Electrolyte Drink

Electrolytes are minerals that are needed by the body to perform basic life function processes. Two of these functions in particular is to maintain electrical neutrality in the cells and to generate and conduct action potentials in the nerves and muscles.

ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE

When electrolyte levels in the blood become too high or too low, it can cause an imbalance, which in turn can lead to issues such as:

  • irregular heartbeat
  • muscle weakness or spasms
  • bone disorders
  • convulsions and/or seizures
  • confusion
  • numbness
  • excessive tiredness
  • nervous system disorders
  • change in blood pressure

CAUSES OF IMBALANCE

  • poor diet and severe dehydration
  • prolonged vomiting or diarrhoea
  • loss of electrolytes and hydration after exercise
  • acidosis/alkalosis (imbalance of blood pH)
  • diuretics and other drugs
  • congestive heart failure
  • cancer treatment

ELECTROLYTE DRINKS

Most electrolyte drinks that you will find on supermarket shelves (and even some from healthy places like sports nutrition stores) contain ingredients that are far from being beneficial to the body. High levels of sugar, sodium, food dyes, chemical sweeteners and other additives found in these drinks contribute to health problems. Many popular electrolyte drinks, when consumed regularly, have the potential to lead to diabetes, kidney damage, tooth enamel erosion and weight gain.

Clearly it’s best to avoid this ‘health’ drink and stick to a natural source of rehydration of electrolytes.

HOMEMADE AND HEALTHY ELECTROLYTE DRINK RECIPE

  • 1/2 cup of fresh orange juice
  • 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice
  • 2 cups of raw coconut water
  • 2 tbl organic raw honey or organic maple syrup
  • 2 pinches of Himalayan salt

METHOD

  1. Put all ingredients in a blender and blend well.
  2. Bottle in glass and refrigerate.
  3. Best served on ice.

For a nice change, substitute the orange juice for 1/4 cup of lime juice!

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In Low Tox Life

All Natural DIY Linen Spray

Have you used one of these before?

Linen sprays are designed to freshen up sheets and sometimes clothing between washes.

You might be thinking you don’t really need one because your fabric softener leaves a pretty smell on your clothes and bed linen, but I’m here to let you know that those aromas are doing more harm then good!

I talk a bit more about it over here on this post, but any ‘fragrance’ you come across these days is more likely to be a cocktail of hundreds of synthetic ingredients that are linked to all kinds of illness and disease.

Not too long ago, all fragrances came from pure extracts of plants, aka essential oils. For most big companies, it’s a lot cheaper to fabricate scent in a laboratory.

I don’t know about you, but I’m all about quality and not compromising my health.

ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils have become quite popular these days but they really aren’t a new thing.

Their use dates back to thousands of years ago where they were used not only to heal and nurture the body, but to anoint it in spiritual practice, embalm the deceased, protect from illness and disease and to simply fragrance the environment and home.

Because of their comeback, many companies have jumped on the ‘oily’ bandwagon purely for profit and so there are a lot of ‘essential oils’ out there that simply are not true, authentic extracts from the plant.

Then there is the issue of how they are farmed, distilled and tested..

but that’s another story for another day!

Essential oils, if pure and unadulterated can bring a lot of joy and healing to your life. Plus they are really handy for all your DIY creations.

Here’s a very simple linen spray that you can use to freshen up your towels and sheets.

WHAT YOU NEED

  • 10 – 20 drops of essential oil
  • 70 mL distilled or filtered water
  • 30 mL vodka
  • 100 mL glass spray bottle

METHOD

  1. Add essential oils to 100 mL glass spray bottle.
  2. Add water and vodka.
  3. Gently invert to mix.
  4. Lightly spray from a distance on sheets and other household linen.

Fragrances to try:

Bergamot, Lavender, Geranium (fresh floral and citrus scent)

Lavender, Cedarwood, Frankincense (great for sleep)

Orange, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang (sensual and intimate)

NEW TO OILS?

I have a free Essential Oils Course that goes through the basics of essential oils, how to use them safely, how to save money and everyday uses for your home, beauty, health and more!

I also have a discount code for you if you’d like to try the same superior quality essential oils that I use.

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In Low Tox Life

All Natural DIY Stain Stick

Living a low tox life means avoiding as many toxins as possible in our household and personal care products and one of the places we need to evaluate is our laundry.

I always say, you are the gatekeeper in your home. That means you get to choose what products you use and what products you feel comfortable allowing into your home.

Many products out there that are designed to whiten and brighten, contain ingredients that ‘trick the eye’ into thinking they look cleaner and some whiteners can cause developmental and reproductive effects.

Sadly, most products on the market contain synthetic and harmful ingredients that pose a risk to you and your family’s health and have no place in a healthy home.

I talk a little more about this over on this post.

So what can we do?

Well, you can spend some time looking for a company/brand that is committed to only using safe, beneficial ingredients or you can make your own.

I tend to do a mix of both.

There are some things that I love making myself and there are other things that I leave up to the experts and buy from my favourite online brand.

Here’s a super simple stain stick recipe that has worked for me.

It uses a combo of basic raw ingredients with things I always have at home.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED

  • 2 drops Thieves Dish Soap
  • 5 drops Lemon essential oil
  • Hydrogen Peroxide

METHOD

  1. Add the dish soap and essential oil to a 10 – 15 mL glass roller bottle.
  2. Top up with hydrogen peroxide.
  3. Apply to stains before washing.

SUPPLIES

The hydrogen peroxide you can usually find at your local health food shop or discount chemist.

I order my essential oils from Young Living as they work well, are the best value and are free from contaminants and adulteration. (I’ve spent years researching and trying loads of brands)

The Thieves dish soap I get from Young Living too because again, no nasties or hidden ingredients.

Use my referral number as a discount code if you’d like to try these too!

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In Low Tox Life

All Natural DIY Fabric Softener

Did you know that fabric softener is one of the most toxic household products you can have in your home?

Apart from crazy ingredients like methylisothiazolinone , a potent skin allergen and glutaral, known to trigger asthma and skin allergies, they also contain synthetic fragrances.

Synthetic fragrances have been linked to cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions and they are in almost everything you can think of!

READ YOUR LABELS

When you start to look around your house and read the labels of your favourite products, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of chemical nasties, but do not fear. I always encourage people to take one step at a time.

Choose one room, one cupboard or one product, and switch it out for a safe, all natural product instead. Just be on the look out for greenwashing!!

What is greenwashing? This post explains it.

MAKE YOUR OWN

The beauty of making your own products is that usually they are very cost effective PLUS you know exactly what is in there. No hidden nasties.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED

  • 1 tbl of your favourite organic/chemical free conditioner
  • 10 – 20 drops of essential oil of your choice
  • 1 cup of distilled vinegar
  • 1 cup of warm water

METHOD

  1. Add all ingredients to a 500 mL glass jar or bottle and mix gently.
  2. Add a small amount to your wash as you normally would to soften clothes, towels and sheets.

DON’T HAVE TIME FOR DIY?

Here’s where I shop for all my family’s favourite personal care and household cleaning products. I’ve read the labels and they are 100% safe, effective and the company aligns with my values.

They also deliver to my door!

Use my referral code (1706951) for a 24% discount and go here if you want to learn more about how essential oils can bring so much beauty and good health to your life.

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In Low Tox Life

The Hidden Dangers of Greenwashing

Greenwashing:

“Greenwashing, also called “green sheen”, is a form of marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization’s products, aims and policies are environmentally friendly.“

Yikes! Thanks Wikepedia.

I wish I knew about this 25 years ago when I had my first baby.

I eventually figured it out, but it wasn’t because somebody told me.

So here I am today to let you know, just in case you’ve never heard of it!

GREENWASHING

Greenwashing has been around probably as long as we’ve had people waking up and realising that the products they were putting on their family weren’t really that nice.

Companies recognised a trend that mummas and care-givers were looking for natural solutions and environmentally friendly products, especially those with little ones that were struggling with conditions like asthma and eczema. So they rebranded their products, or came up with some new ones, that would be more appealing and sell well in the market.

Sadly, greenwashing is a ploy to make you think you’re doing the right thing, using “natural” products, but when you dig a little deeper and research the ingredient list, you find out that what you thought you were putting on your brand new baby, isn’t “organic” at all and it’s actually really bad for the environment.

Yep, that was me. I trusted the company and brand because the label said things like “100% pure” and “organic”. It had a pretty picture of a cute baby and a serene earth and I thought, this HAS to be natural.

I was horrified to discover that what I was putting on my little one had ingredients that were linked to infertility, hormone disruption, asthma, neurological problems and skin allergies.

From that moment on I decided to always look closer and make sure the company truly delivers a product that is safe and beneficial to me, my family and the planet.

So how do you feel about greenwashing?

Let me know down below.

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In Low Tox Life

2022 Dirty Dozen Food List

Once upon a time we didn’t call food organic or non-organic, it was just food.

Can we all just go back to that please?

It bothers me that organic farmers have to prove their organic-ness and pay for organic accreditation just so we, the consumers, know their food is just as nature intended. Shouldn’t it be the other way round?

I’m not an agricultural expert by any means but I have grown my own and know all too well the effort it takes to produce a crop without the use of synthetic pesticides.

And that’s just for my little backyard garden!

So, why do we want to avoid these nasty chemicals in the first place?

Pesticides are toxic chemicals designed to kill agricultural pests and unfortunately when consumed by humans have been linked to cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, ADHD and even birth defects.

THE DIRTY DOZEN AND CLEAN 15

The EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ (aka Dirty Dozen and Clean 15) is updated each year and ranks pesticide contamination on 47 popular fruits and vegetables.

While this isn’t Aussie specific, it does give you a very good indication of the types of fruits and vegetables that are the most hard hit.

We don’t want to avoid any fruits and vegetables, so if you can’t buy local and organic, opt for an all natural fruit and veggie wash like the Thieves Fruit and Veggie Soak as a great alternative.

We actually use it even on our organic bought produce and it’s surprising to see what’s left in the water and the difference it makes to the longevity of our fresh food.

SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS

Many local farmers grow their crops using all or mostly organic practices but aren’t big enough, or simply choose not to, pay for accreditation. It makes sense to get to know them and ask them how they do things so that you can happily buy their produce and feel good knowing you are not only supporting them but also giving your family high quality and nutrient dense local foods.

Do you know where your local organic market is?

Or are you growing your own!

Let me know in the comments.

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In Essential Oils

Royal Hawaiian Face Serum

Nourishing your skin can be so simple using pure ingredients that promote a natural, healthy glow.

In this recipe we will be using a selection of the finest quality essential oils to moisturise and tend to the delicate needs of your facial skin and décolletage area while making you feel a million dollars.

Creating your own spa treatments at home can be so simple and affordable.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:

  • 2 drops Lavender essential oil
  • 2 drops Manuka essential oil
  • 2 drops Frankincense essential oil
  • 2 drops Geranium essential oil
  • 2 drops Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood essential oil
  • 60 mL pure Jojoba oil

METHOD

  1. Add all essential oils to a 60 mL glass dropper bottle.
  2. Top up with jojoba oil.
  3. Carefully invert back and forth to mix all ingredients.
  4. Use a small amount day and night after cleansing skin.
  5. Can be used on its own or before your favourite organic moisturiser.

NEW TO ESSENTIAL OILS?

Use my discount code 1706951 here.

And be sure to check out my free Essential Oils Course that goes through the basics of essential oils, how to use them safely, how to save money and everyday uses for your home, beauty, health and more!

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In Essential Oils

Lavender-Infused Dry Shampoo

Washing your hair after a hectic day is extremely satisfying and can even be part of your self-care practice. However washing too often can leave it prone to dryness and breakage. Have you ever experienced this?

Greasy or dirty hair never feels nice, so a great alternative in between washes is dry shampoo.

DID YOU KNOW?

Most conventional dry shampoo brands contain toxic ingredients that can cause allergic reactions, fertility problems and even cancer. This is another product on the shelves that needs to be avoided but thankfully you can make your own!

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:

  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 2 drops Cedarwood essential oil
  • 2 drops Rosemary essential oil
  • 1 drop Tea Tree essential oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cacao powder (for dark hair only)

METHOD:

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl, adding the cacao powder one tablespoon at a time until desired colour is reached.
  • Put in a container of your choice and apply with a makeup brush.
  • Leave for 2–3 minutes to absorb hair’s natural oils.
  • Brush through hair and style as desired.

Dry shampoo adds texture and keeps your hair feeling fresh for longer. It can even be used to help style your hair and give it some lift when it’s feeling a little flat.

Have you tried dried shampoo before?

Let me know if you try this recipe!

NEW TO ESSENTIAL OILS?

Use my discount code 1706951 here.

And be sure to check out my free Essential Oils Course that goes through the basics of essential oils, how to use them safely, how to save money and everyday uses for your home, beauty, health and more!

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In Essential Oils

Mermaid Waves Hair Spray

We all want lushious locks that we can be proud of but we also don’t want to sacrifice our health for beauty, right?

This all natural recipe is just the thing to show your hair some love and leave it smelling beautiful.

If you are looking for that ‘beach wave’ look, keep reading to the end to discover the secret ingredient.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:

  • 10 drops Cedarwood essential oil
  • 10 drops Rosemary essential oil
  • 10 drops Lavender essential oil
  • 5 drops Geranium essential oil
  • 5 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
  • Alcohol-free Witch Hazel

METHOD:

  1. Add all essential oils to a 120 mL glass spray bottle.
  2. Fill with the witch hazel and shake gently to mix.
  3. Spritz lightly on to damp hair and work into scalp.

THE SECRET INGREDIENT:

Do you ever wish you could create the perfect beach waves at home, even when you are no where near the beach?

Here’s the secret ingredient to add to your new Mermaid Waves hair spray…

Sea Salt!

Yep, that’s it. I guess it’s not too hard to understand why.

Simply add a pinch to your spray bottle before filling up with witch hazel and apply in the same way.

You can also add to dry hair and scrunch for extra beach waves.

DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY ESSENTIAL OILS?

Use my discount code 1706951 here.

And be sure to check out my free Essential Oils Course that goes through the basics of essential oils, how to use them safely, how to save money and everyday uses for your home, beauty, health and more!

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In Essential Oils

12 Tips to Detox Your Bedroom

REMOVE ELECTRONICS

Don’t take your phone to bed. Switch it off and charge it in a different room of the house. Seriously consider removing all electronics from the bedroom, including the TV.

REDUCE OR ELIMINATE VOCS

Volatile Organic Compounds can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation and have even been linked to cancer and other diseases. They are found in new paint, new carpet, new furnishings, cleaning products and mattresses. So do your best to eliminate or at the very least, reduce VOC exposure.

UPGRADE YOUR MATTRESS

Many mattresses prior to 2004 were treated with flame retardants known as PBDEs. Research has linked PBDE exposure to thyroid hormone disruption, memory impairment and other adverse health effects. Is it time you upgraded your mattress?

CHECK YOUR BED FRAME

Check your bed frame and how it’s put together. Some are made with chemical adhesives that can emit potentially toxic formaldehyde fumes. Formaldehyde is the #1 cancer causing chemical and is what embalmers use!

CHECK PLACEMENT OF BED

Check placement of your bed head and any mirrors in the room. The practice of Feng Shui is super interesting!

DECLUTTER

De-clutter! Tidy up bedside tables, remove excess furniture and random items. Keep surfaces dust-free.

DITCH THE CANDLES

Swap out toxic candles for an ultrasonic diffuser and some therapeutic oils. Fragrance is the number one killer in the home. It’s literally a combination of hundreds of toxic chemicals that have been known to cause disruption to the hormones, cancer and irritation to the respiratory system. Here’s what I recommend instead.

LET FRESH AIR AND SUNLIGHT IN

Open windows and curtains during the day to let fresh air in and natural sunlight. Sleep with windows open if weather permits.

USE PLANTS TO PURIFY

Use plants to purify the air. Japanese royal ferns, spider plants and aloe vera are among the most useful plants for eliminating VOCs and other toxins.

USE NATURAL FIBERS

Use natural fibers for bedding and switch to laundry products made from pure plant-based ingredients and essential oils. Ditch those that contain phosphates, synthetic dyes and fragrances. Here’s what I use.

CHANGE YOUR LINEN

Change your pillowcases every few days and wash pillows regularly. Change sheets weekly and dry in the sun if possible.

LEAVE YOUR SHOES AT THE DOOR

Leave your shoes at the front door to prevent bringing in any pesticides or other toxins in your home. Especially no shoes in the bedroom where you’re sleeping.

So there you have it! 12 Tips to Help you Detox Your Bedroom. Which one do you think you’ll try first?

WANT TO TRY ESSENTIAL OILS?

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