Deodorant is an $18 billion industry in America, with 95 percent of us using it every single day. Most of us don’t think twice about swiping our underarms every morning, but did you know that your deodorant likely contains a number of harmful ingredients that can have long-term negative health effects?
Get Rid of Yellow Toenails For Good With These 4 Natural Remedies
If you’ve ever looked down and noticed your toenails looking less-than-ideal, you might want to avoid activities such as taking a pleasant walk on the beach in your flip-flops or enjoying a well-deserved foot massage from your spouse.
Amazing Things You Can Do With Eggshells
Contrary to the myths of the past, eggs are an excellent, high protein food filled with nutritious vitamins and minerals. Not only that, but they are packed with lutein and zeaxanthin which contribute to eye health and choline which encourages a healthy brain and nervous system. But the amazing uses for eggs don’t end with scrambling them or making a veggie-filled omelet; you can recycle the shells for fun crafts, garden fertilizer, and even to amp up your beauty routine.
8 Ways To Get Rid Of Varicose Veins Naturally
Varicose veins are a reality for many people, and although they’re usually considered a problem for women, anyone can develop these bulgy, lumpy, painful veins in their legs. In fact, up to 55 percent of women and 45 percent of men in the United States have varicose veins. [Read more…]
My Favorite Lemon and Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Drink ( and why I drink it)
Perhaps you have heard the word “detox” tossed around all too frequently to believe it has any real meaning. Unfortunately, major corporations have exploited the true meaning of the word for financial gain. This makes it very hard to untangle the useful, well-researched information on the topic from that which is just fluff.
The truth is, detoxing is paramount to good health and a necessity in our day and age. No matter how clean a lifestyle you live, we are bombarded on a daily basis by a host of toxins ranging from those within our own home to those in the atmosphere at large. Everything from the food we consume, the personal care products we use and the area in which we live can play a major role in our long-term health.
Many toxins such as pesticides, factory pollution, and contaminated water sources are hard to escape. The sad truth is, we live in a very toxic world and that makes it even more important to pay attention to detoxing.
The word detox simply means the act of ridding the body of toxins. It is something that we do singularly or on a continual basis to keep toxins from building up in our body. It is a good healthy practice to develop habits that will help to keep your body free and clear. Some of these habits include getting enough rest, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of clean, fresh water, eating loads of veggies, abstaining from fast and processed food, using non-toxic personal care and cleaning products and reducing stress in your life. All of these things will help to keep your body in prime condition so that it can handle the stress of toxins.
One other healthy habit that I recommend is a very simple detox drink that can be enjoyed daily. This drink will soon become one of your favorites as it not only helps support healthy detoxification but it also boosts your immune system and provides an energy boost.
Apple cider vinegar contains a host of healthy bacteria, vitamins, and minerals that support efficient digestion and build a strong immune system. Lemons are known for their antioxidants and high vitamin C content. They help to protect your body from damage at the cellular level and help cleanse your liver.
The addition of cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and ginger in this drink all help support healthy metabolism and detoxification. Raw honey adds just the right amount of sweetness and adds a tremendous therapeutic value of its own.
Enjoy this drink daily, first thing in the morning and you will be doing your body a great favor!
Detox Drink Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 glass warm or hot water (at least 12 – 16 ozs.)
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 dashes of cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp raw honey
Instructions:
- Gather all ingredients and glass. I used a mason jar.
- Heat the water to the desired temperature.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the glass or jar.
- Drink while still warm or hot.
- This drink takes about 5 minutes to prepare.
-Susan Patterson
9 Places You Forgot to Wash But Should
We often take our showers for granted, assuming that the water passing over our bodies will clean all the nooks and crannies. Well, that may not necessarily be true. Some body parts require a little more daily attention, and when left unnoticed not only creates a stink, but also helps bacteria thrive. Here’s nine places you forgot to wash but should.
The Best Way to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Radiant Summer Skin
Summer’s here, and so are the many summer related skin issues like sunburn, pimples, heat rash, and more. Apple cider vinegar, rich in beneficial acids, vitamins, enzymes, and mineral salts, can help bring your summer skin out of its winter slumber. ACV has been used as a natural remedy, inside and out, for thousands of years thanks to its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Many people claim it can make your skin appear brighter and more youthful. Here’s the best way to use ACV for radiant summer skin.
What’s in a bottle?
Before delving into the many benefits apple cider vinegar (ACV) can provide for your skin, it’s beneficial to know what exactly is in that bottle before ingesting or putting it on your face.
- Apple cider vinegar is mainly apple juice.
- A two-step process turns it into vinegar.
- Yeast is added to crushed apples, which ferments the sugars and turns them into alcohol.
- Then, bacteria are added to ferment the alcohol further, turning it into acetic acid. It’s this acetic acid (the main active compound in vinegar) that gives ACV its pungent smell and sour taste.
- Unfiltered, organic ACV also contains a substance called “mother.” “Mother” consists of friendly bacteria, strands of proteins, and enzymes — giving ACV that murky appearance.
Here’s how ACV can benefit summer skin
Apple cider vinegar has always been held in high regard as an important weight-loss elixir. But when used correctly, it can also have a significant impact on skin. While some of the research is anecdotal, advocates rave about the results they achieve when adding ACV to their DIY skincare regime. Here’s what ACV can do for your skin.
- Improves the skin’s barrier — ACV is high in pectin, a polysaccharide that occurs naturally in apples. According to a study published in Biomolecules & Therapeutics, pectin may be beneficial in improving the skin’s barrier. The skin’s barrier is the outermost layer of the epidermis. Its job is to hold in moisture — stopping it from drying out — and protecting your skin from harsh elements.
- Helps clear skin conditions — Research suggests that acetic acid, the main compound in ACV, has antifungal and antimicrobial properties. When used topically, ACV helps clear bacteria that cause certain skin conditions such as occasional breakouts, acne, rosacea, and eczema.
- Acts as a natural anti-aging remedy — Citric acid, found in ACV, is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). AHAs are used to increase skin cell turnover. Research suggests that AHAs are ideal for decreasing wrinkles, age spots, scarring, pigmentation, and dry skin.
The best way to use apple cider vinegar for radiant summer skin is by diluting it with purified water. Here’s how to incorporate ACV into your skincare regime.
ACV as a facial cleanser
Ditch those harsh soaps and chemicals for an all-natural face wash made from apple cider vinegar.
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup of warm purified water
Instructions:
- Remove your eye makeup — coconut oil is a great natural makeup remover.
- Add ACV to water and stir.
- Using a cotton pad, soak in ACV mixture and wipe the entire face — avoiding the eyes.
- Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
ACV as a facial toner
ACV is a wonderful natural toner that helps control sebum, improve acne-prone skin, and even act as an anti-aging remedy.
Ingredients:
- 1-part ACV
- 2 parts purified water
Instructions:
- Mix together ACV and water.
- Using a cotton pad, apply the mixture gently over your skin — then rinse.
- Apply a gentle, fragrance-free dry oil or moisturizer.
As a sunburn remedy
For sunburnt skin, ACV is very soothing. Simply mix one cup of ACV with five cups of purified water. Soak a washcloth with the ACV mixture and press gently on sunburnt areas of the body. Additionally, you can add two cups of ACV to a cool bath for sunburn relief.
ACV as an exfoliant
Exfoliation is the process of removing old, dead skin cells. ACV contains fruit acids, including malic acid, which acts to exfoliate dead skin cells gently. In fact, natural fruit acids, like those found in ACV, have a number of skin benefits even beyond exfoliation like decreasing skin inflammation and boosting cell turnover. Just saturate a cotton pad with ACV and gently rub onto your face. Then rinse with warm water.
For all-over exfoliation, simply add about two cups of apple cider vinegar into your bath. Soak for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Follow with a gentle moisturizer.
ACV as a spot treatment
When it’s hot outside, people tend to sweat significantly more. Add to that, pollution, grime, and makeup, and it’s a recipe for breakouts. An ACV spot treatment can help clear those impromptu blemishes as soon as they appear. Simply soak a cotton swab with a little full-strength ACV and dab it on the blemish. The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar is both antibacterial and keratolytic, suggests board-certified dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD, for Women’s Health. Meaning it’s actually potent enough to remove warts or calluses.
The bottom line: it will work wonders zapping those zits. And as an added bonus, ACV — thanks to that chemical exfoliation — can also help reduce the appearance of acne scars over time.
Keeping your skin soft, smooth, and healthy doesn’t have to cost a fortune. A little apple cider vinegar in your DIY skincare routine will keep you looking radiant all summer long.
-Susan Patterson
7 Ways to Use Food for Your Skin
Believe it or not, those ten products that you apply to your skin every morning and evening aren’t going to do you any good when you are filling your body with processed foods and sugary drinks like soda. Great skin starts from the inside out, and eating a whole foods diet with loads of vegetables, and limited sugar is a great way to recapture that youthful glow.
5 Essential Natural Products You MUST Have in Your Bathroom
If you’ve read many health articles in the last few years, you’ve probably come across many concerning reports about the health issues associated with toxic beauty and cleaning products. The truth is, those products which you so willingly spread all over your skin could actually be really dangerous, contributing to things such as cancer, skin disease, and environmental disasters. There are tons of products out there that are totally natural, safe, and just as effective (if not more) as the ones loaded with toxins. We’ve gathered a list of our must-have natural bathroom essentials.
4 Herbal Elixirs to Keep You Healthy All Winter Long
As we hibernate in our warm homes waiting for the defrost of Spring, cold and flu bugs often take this opportunity to jump into action. Between decreased vitamin D levels, lack of activity, and chilly winter winds, circumstances are perfect for developing irritating stuffy noses and painful sore throats. Rather than reaching for that bottle of cough syrup at the first signs of a cold, try utilizing these herbal elixirs to take preventative action and heal your body naturally.