DIY Cutting Board Cleaner and Conditioner

The cold weather is finally letting up and warm weather is on its way!  Summer is the time where we love to grill out and enjoy the beautiful weather. I'm sure you use a cutting board to cut meat, vegetables, fruit and other items.  It's super important that you keep your cutting board conditioned and clean to ward off germs and bacteria and help make your cutting board last longer.

Did you know you can condition your wood cutting boards with your trusty friend coconut oil!?! Just rub a little coconut oil on the cutting board with a cloth. Not only does it condition the wood, but coconut oil has antibacterial and viral properties that will help to kill off those nasty germs!

Coconut Oil Pulling

Sore throat got you down? Here is a simple trick to help!

Coconut oil pulling can do wonders during the cold/flu season. Coconut oil is anti-bacterial, fungal and viral which is why it is super important to get it internally (eat it, cook with it, put it in smoothies, or put a TBS to melt in your coffee or tea). If I wake up with a sore throat I will do this simple trick and say goodbye to my sore throat!

To do coconut oil pulling all you need to do is put a tsp or more in your mouth and swish around like mouthwash for 5 to 20 minutes. Yep, 20 minutes may seem like a lot but you get used to it. (DO NOT swallow it. It is pulling toxins and gross bacteria out.)

At first it may seem strange, but once the coconut oil melts in your mouth it’s no big deal.  It will be solid when you first put it in your mouth and then it warms up to your body temperature and starts to turn to liquid. I personally would wake up and walk into my kitchen first thing and scoop a TBS coconut oil and start swishing around during my morning routine which took about 10 to 15 minutes. You want to do it for AT LEAST 5 minutes and can go up to 20 minutes.

Once you have done that make sure to SPIT OIL INTO A TRASHCAN. This is super important because if you spit it in the sink, the coconut oil will turn solid when cold and clog up your sink. So, spit into a trashcan and then immediately rinse your mouth out with hot water with a dash of sea salt or apple cider vinegar.

Swish around and then you can spit that into the sink. Brush your teeth after and you are done! Not only will your sore throat feel better, but your teeth feel squeaky clean. A lot of people do this daily to whiten their teeth. Coconut oil is amazing people!

Optional- add a drop or 2 of melaleuca/tea tree essential oil to the coconut oil before you start the coconut oil pull. Tea tree has great antimicrobial properties that are amazing for when you are sick!

Nashville’s Birthing Resources and Classes

We’re talking babies again! So far we have covered: birthing facilities/options, doulas, and lightly talked about birth plans. Now we are going to talk about childbirth classes, lactation consultants, and vaccine choices.

The old saying of “You don’t know what you don’t know” is so true when it comes to pregnancy and birth. Pre-pregnancy me found the thought of childbirth classes silly.  Who needs to be told how to breathe?! We’ve seen it done in movies thousands of times over! Pregnant and ‘crunchy’ Becca, however, quickly learned I was so naïve. Sure, if you aren’t too concerned about pain management and want your epidural (which is totally fine!) there aren’t as many options you really need to worry about. If you, however, are someone that is really trying for a natural birth you get to choose between Hypnobabies, Hypnobirth, Bradley Method, Lamaze, Birthing From Within, and many others.  Who knew!?

All of these methods have their benefits, so it really is a matter of finding which works best for you and your birthing partner. Ask yourself how you respond to pain, how you manage pain, and what you picture yourself doing during labor. Many women have a visual in their head of what that delivery room activity looks like and that can really help narrow things down. We chose Hypnobabies (I didn’t know there was a difference in Hypnobabies and Hypnobirth at the time) Home Study. Admittedly, I didn’t really stick with it and never even broke it out during delivery, but have heard the in-person classes are far more valuable.

There are also many other classes offered in our area. These include Newborn Care, Sibling Care, and even breastfeeding courses. The one course I really regret not taking last time was the nursing class. I really went through pregnancy thinking, “nursing is natural, you just put the baby to your breast and he/she feeds.” Remember that saying I mentioned earlier about not knowing what you don’t know? Yeah I learned quickly after delivery that Lactation Consultants are true angels!

Because my labor was so long and had some complications, nursing was affected a bit. Add in a small lip tie and lots of food sensitivities and it was a perfect storm for frustration, tears, and prayers. Since I delivered at Vandy, I had the ability to go back and utilize their lactation services a few times after leaving the hospital and this helped a ton! After a few months, I then started attending a group called Weigh to Go Baby. Mothers met with their babes and we weighed the babies, nursed, and then weighed again to measure how much milk the babies were actually getting. This was super helpful for me to see that he was getting enough.

There are also private companies that offer lactation services. Most everyone in our area that has a baby knows the name Kate Cropp and I highly suggest her group! She is wonderful and so knowledgeable. Then there is also La Leche League. Depending on what area you live in, you can attend the group meeting and get a load of valuable help and info. Another source to use is www.KellyMom.com. This site is great if you want to read info online, check how often you should nurse at any given time, and get answers to many other random nursing questions.

Now, to a topic that ruffles a lot of feathers - vaccine choices…yes I said choices. Because it can be such a sensitive topic, I am going to keep this one pretty light. Regardless of your stance, as parents we are all on the same side - making a choice that we know to be in our child’s best interest. Period. Anytime a decision involves possible mandates and those mandates involve corporate profit, we should all be able to make an informed parental choice and go from there. 

I’ve had people ask my thoughts on vaccinations or what we chose to do.  While I answer their questions, my biggest push is to make sure they make an informed decision. Don’t just read one side of the argument or listen to one person’s opinion, take the time to read both sides, read vaccine inserts, watch movies, read books, ask your pediatrician. After all of that, then decide where you stand on everything. I’m a big supporter of having an open mind - I wouldn’t be in an alternative field if I wasn't!

In the state of Tennessee you can be vaccinated fully on schedule, vaccinate on an adjusted schedule, or choose to avoid vaccinations with a religious or medical exemption. The choice is completely yours as the parent. This goes for any vaccinations at birth, too. The Hepatitis B and Vitamin K vaccines are the two most widely discussed after birth choices, along with the ‘eye goop’. Until July 1 st , 2016, it was actually a misdemeanor in our state to opt out of the antibiotic eye ointment, although many hospitals did not enforce the charges. Many women feel that the routine procedure is not necessary if the mother was not put at risk for Gonorrhea or Chlamydia and tested negative for it during pregnancy. As for the Vitamin K shot, some women choose to use liquid vitamin k drops on a designated schedule to help boost baby’s levels - the most popular brand of drops is from our Biotics line.

These are all big decisions as a parent! Do your research, find where you stand, and then find a doctor that you feel not only comfortable with medically, but that also supports your decision. Just as some parents look for pediatricians with separate sick waiting rooms and Saturday office hours, many look for doctors that do or don’t support vaccinations across their patient base.

Nashville Birth and Babies
www.nashvillebirthandbabies.com

Nashville Birth Network
http://www.nashvillebirthnetwork.org/

Vaccine Inserts
http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/package_inserts.htm

Deep Moisturizing Treatment

Coconut oil is amazing for many reasons, but did you know it could be used for a deep conditioning hair treatment? It will make your hair so silky, smooth and it's great for dandruff suffer! All you need is coconut oil and a shower cap.

When your hair is dry, completely cover it from root to tip with melted coconut oil.  Make sure you massage it in the scalp, too.  Once your hair is all greased up, put on a shower cap for an hour or longer.

When you shower, make sure to put shampoo in your hair before you get it wet.  This step is VERY IMPORTANT.  You will have no problem getting the coconut oil out of your hair if you put shampoo on it before it's wet. 

This treatment will help your hair be silky smooth and even helped my split ends.  

Try it and see how it works for you!

Photo: Authority Nutrition

No Bake Coconut Crispy Treats

This is the perfect, healthy alternative to a Rice Krispy Treat.  These take no time to make and are a great dessert for all ages! Plus, they are void of all junk sweeteners and filler ingredients in processed desserts and treats. So, make a big pan of them and feel good about having a healthy treat for your family!

Ingredients:
4 Cups Shredded Coconut
1 Cup Coconut Oil, Melted
1/3 Cup Maple Syrup or Honey
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt

Instructions:
Toast coconut in a skillet over low heat.  Once toasted, put in a bowl and mix in maple syrup, vanilla and salt. Lastly, add in melted coconut oil and stir all together.

Pour coconut crispy treats into a 8×8 pan.

Cover the pan with wax paper or parchment paper and press the coconut mix down evenly over the whole pan.

Refrigerate coconut crispy treats for 1 to 2 hours or freeze for 30 minutes.  Once set, they are ready to cut up and enjoy! Keep leftovers in the fridge or freezer.

Optional - drizzle with healthy dark chocolate (3 ingredient homemade recipe here) or add crushed almonds with sea salt on top too!

Recipe adapted from: The Coconut Mama

Hit a wall between 1 & 3? This post is for you.

Do you hit a wall between 1 and 3 pm?  Many people feel like they either need a nap, something sugary or caffeine.  If you are one of those people, don't reach fall for the cravings.  There are easy natural ways to bump up your energy and help you get through that midday slump.

When you hit this wall or feel like you need sugary foods or caffeine during these hours it means your adrenal glands are tired.  Adrenal glands are considered your stress glands. They pump out hormones to keep you going day in and day out.  They fire up with both good and bad stress, so each time there is a stressor it is like asking them to run a marathon.  Then another stressor comes and they have to run again. It's just an endless cycle!

If you had to run a one marathon after another, you eventually couldn't go anymore, but our bodies are amazing and the adrenals keep working day in and out.  They get tired too, though. When the adrenals are overworked, you feel tired.  When things get really bad, severe adrenal fatigue sets in and you feel overwhelmed very easily.  Another symptom people complain of is mid to lower back pain that feels like a deep bruise or ache that never goes away.

You are not destined to feel this way forever- by supporting your adrenal glands it is amazing how much better you can feel. I see this multiple times a day and it still amazes me how much better people feel by adding in the correct support. Many patients come in lifeless and ‘down’ on their first visit and by the second visit you can see their face get brighter, have happier dispositions and just feel better in general. It takes a lot time to rebuild, but getting on the right support can make a HUGE difference.

What can you do?  
Try to avoid stress! That is what most people say, but how realistic is it?  Not very - but you can choose to minimize it.  Do not say yes to everything and everyone - you will wear yourself down. Create boundaries and make time for yourself daily, even if it just 10 minutes a day.

Eat an avocado a day - great hormones and fuel for the adrenals
If you hit a dip in the afternoon, drink hot tea with 1 tbs of coconut oil - this keeps your blood sugar levels stable and doesn't spike them which stresses the adrenal glands even more
Keep your protein intake up - make sure to get 30 grams of protein in for breakfast.  I do it through a smoothie or eat turkey, chicken sausage, etc. with eggs for breakfast. You want to have protein at each meal.
Snack on nuts and seeds
If you are craving sugar - eat some protein first and a glass of water, then wait 15 minutes before indulging.  If you have to indulge try natural sugars like honey and maple syrup in moderation.

You can also support your adrenals through great supplements that we commonly use in the office. These are just a few of the many ones we use. The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system - so we have to look at everything and not just single out the adrenals!

• Adrenal Support by Nature Sunshine
  • Great to take a bottle when big stressors come up or life throws you a curve ball
• Nervous Fatigue TCM by Nature Sunshine
  • Great for maintenance and protection of the adrenals
• Mineral Chi Tonic by Nature Sunshine
  • Minerals are fuel for adrenals and this also has other great herbs for them too.  Its is a liquid which is easy to mix or take straight (not the best tasting thing but you can do it :)
• Adrenal Desiccated by Standard Process
  • For very severe cases
• Drenamin by Standard Process
  • Whole food based supplement for the adrenals
• Min Tran by Standard Process
  • Relaxing minerals to relax the body and adrenals; Great for when the mind starts racing when you lay down to go to sleep!

Again there are SO many other supplements we use, but this is just a quick overview.  If the symptoms above sound like you, give us a call and we can help out.  You don't have to live run down or in a constant state of feeling overwhelmed. 

For order instructions on Nature Sunshine click here and for Standard Process visit the office or call 615-656-3558.

Photo Source.

DIY Hand Soap

Bronner's is a home's best friend.  Remember Bronner’s Castile Soap from the facewash post? Well, another handy tip is that you can use castile soap for hand soap too!

 You just fill ¼ of your soap container with Bronner’s Castile Liquid Soap (personal favorites are peppermint and lavender) and the rest with water. That is it! It makes for a nice and foamy hand soap that lathers really well. Simple, multifunctional, inexpensive castile soap for the win! Plus no added synthetic fragrances and toxic additives (avoid triclosan and triclocarbon listed in ingredients). Good ol’ castile soap will do the job!

Interesting info from Environmental Working Group

‘Anti-bacterial soaps do kill bacteria and microbes -- but so do plain soap and water. A U.S. FDA advisory committee found that use of antibacterial soaps provides no benefits over plain soap and water.

The main reason to avoid anti-bacterial soaps is its active ingredient: triclosan (and the related triclocarbon). Triclosan is an anti-bacterial chemical found in many consumer products, and it's nearly ubiquitous in liquid hand soap. It is linked to liver and inhalation toxicity, and even low levels of triclosan may disrupt thyroid function. Further, the American Medical Association recommends that triclosan not be used in the home, as it may encourage bacterial resistance to antibiotics.’

For the full article and more information go to: http://www.ewg.org/research/healthy-home- tips/tip-5-wash-those- hands-avoid- triclosan

Trouble losing weight? Try these tips!

A lot of people come into the practice and one of their top 5 concerns or issues typically has something to do with weight.  95% of the time a Candida issue has something to do with it as well as an underlying thyroid issue, our metabolic control center.  Once these things are taken care of, people notice significant changes in their weight and energy levels as well as mental clarity.

Below are some tips to jump start metabolism!

1) Drink a full glass of water immediately upon waking in the morning.  Set the glass of water on your nightstand and have it ready to drink right when you wake up.  This gets you hydrated right away in the morning and jump starts your metabolism.

2) Drink one glass of hot water with ½ lemon daily (or more). This revs up metabolism and gets the liver filtering out toxins that can contribute to weight gain.

3) Stop eating after 6pm.  This gives your body more time to break down food instead of trying to process it during the middle of the night when your metabolism is the slowest.  Set a time to stop eating, even if it is not 6 pm. Sticking to your rule will help keep you from wandering into the kitchen looking for snacks and mindless eating.  Most people eat late at night not because they are hungry, but out of routine!

4) Eat protein at each meal. Ideally you want 30 grams of protein at each meal. You will be amazed at how this little trick can help you feel full longer, lose weight and keep your energy up. Some simple foods to keep a protein filled diet are: almond butter, nuts/seeds, deli meat (make sure it is preservative free… aka nitrates, -ites), chicken, eggs, fish, beef, CLEAN protein powders (we have plenty at the office) and, my favorite, collagen! Collagen has 20 grams of protein per serving. Plus, it is tasteless and can dissolve in cold or warm drinks/food.

Try these easy steps and see how much it can help you!

Healthy Cool Whip

This cool whip is delicious and is only 2 ingredients!  It takes 1 minute to make and taste amazing! All you need is a can of coconut milk (not what you find in the refrigerated aisle).  It can be found at Kroger in the health food section or in the international aisle.  Put a can of coconut milk in the fridge overnight (or at least 8 hours).  This will allow the water and cream to separate which leaves a whipped cream consistency on top and a watery part on the bottom of the can. 

Once refrigerated take the top section out of the can.  You can throw away the bottom watery section.  Next add your sweetener.  I added 1 Tablespoon of honey, but maple syrup or xylitol are other options. You could even add a teaspoon of vanilla to give it a little more flavor too! Mix up and that is it! 

Enjoy! Try dipping your strawberries in it or add it to plantain pancakes! 

Easy Asian Stir Fry

This asian inspired stir fry is simple, healthy, and totally yummy!  I love sharing recipes that are easy to make because sometimes life gets too busy to plan out an elaborate dinner.  For this recipe, you only need 4 ingredients! Are you ready!?!

Ingredients
Broccoli slaw (found at Kroger and Trader Joes
1-2 eggs
Coconut Aminos (soy sauce replacement)
Cashews

Place broccoli slaw in skillet with coconut oil and cook on medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes (until veggies start to get soft).  Then add 1 to 2 eggs (1 for small skillet and 1/2 container of broccoli slaw and 2 eggs for entire container of broccoli slaw).  Stir around to mix the egg in.  

Next, add a large handful of cashews.  Let everything cook for another 5 minutes or so (stir around occasionally) which allows the cashews to get warm and slightly toasted.

Put in a bowl and top with Coconut Aminos!  That's it, and it's husband approved!

You can cook chicken to add in or just eat as is.  It is such an easy recipe to customize to your liking.  I hope you like it is as much as I do!

Enjoy!

Acid Reflux Remedy

If you or anyone you know suffers from acid reflux, keep reading!  Acid reflux actually happens because there is a deficiency in stomach acid.  Yep, that's correct; there is NOT enough stomach acid!  It may sound confusing, but when there is not enough stomach acid your body can't break down food properly, resulting in indigestion causing gas and bloating.  When the food isn't broken down properly it causes the regurgitation up into the esophagus causing what we call 'acid reflux'.  

When people have symptoms they typically take something which actually neutralizes the acid which is already low. This causes an even lower amount of stomach acid and only puts a Band-Aid on the acid reflux and does not fix the problem.

Stomach acid is there to help you digest food and kill off invaders such as bacterias and viruses and even parasites. If you or someone you know gets sick constantly, I would bet they have low stomach acid because their body's first line of defense (stomach acid) is lacking.  Obviously there are many other reasons people get sick, but that is one of the best places to start.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
There are a couple things you can do to help!  First, people who have ulcers from long term acid reflux have to treat this slowly.  You don't want to introduce more stomach acid when there is an ulcer. To test for this you can take 2 TBS of Apple Cider Vinegar with a little bit of water and see if this burns in your stomach area.  If it does, then you likely have a ulcer of some sort.  If you have an ulcer, there is no need to worry because we have 2 products at the office by Standard Process that help heal the ulcers and coat the stomach to help prevent reflux.  They are called Gastrex and Okra-Pepsin.  These are not the fix to acid reflux but are a natural 'Tums' that does not deplete stomach acid like antacids do.  

If you do the Apple Cider Vinegar test and it goes okay the 2 best supplements I use are PDA by Nature Sunshine and Zypan from Standard Process.  

These include stomach acid in them to help you break down food and actually fix the real root cause of reflux, low stomach acid.  If you have questions or concerns please contact the office.

For existing patients, we use Food Enzymes a lot too. This has a little stomach acid in it as well as other great things and enzymes to help you break down foods!

Note: Apple Cider Vinegar is great for digestion and I encourage people to take it with meals as often as possible.  Just fill up a shot glass half with Apple Cider Vinegar and half with water.  You can take it with a little more water to make the taste more mild.

Also, for those who are on the Candida Clear diet/Phase 1 it says no vinegars, however Apple Cider Vinegar is an exception to the rule.  It actually helps to combat candida and is one of the very few vinegars that can be used.  It has enzymes that help tremendously with digestion and also helps to create an environment for healthy bacteria to live in your digestive tract which in turn keeps candida in check.  

FUN FACT: Anyone with gray hair is deficient in stomach acid. So start taking apple cider vinegar or use one of the supplements above so you can increase your stomach acid levels and make sure you are digesting all your food properly!

The Truth About Acne

Acne oh acne. How I personally despise you and have struggled with you over the years.  I'm sure most of you can relate to this, too!  It's something we all have struggled with at some point in our life.  Want to know why and learn about my personal journey? Keep reading!

Acne is something that results from a toxicity issue, hormonal imbalances or food allergies.  If you come see us for an appointment, we sort through and figure out which of these (or all three) are causing your breakouts. I have found little things that help topically, but topical applications NEVER EVER address the real issue which stems from an internal issue mentioned above.

First we address toxicities to get the bad stuff out of your body safely and effectively. These toxicities are usually due to heavy metals, chemicals or candida.  All of which are tested at the office. If toxins aren’t being eliminated properly (via bowel movements, urine, lymphatic system and sweat) they have to come out somewhere. And that somewhere is the skin! Doing a good cleanse is key. I like to think of them as ‘oil changes’ that you do for your body just like you would for your car. Somehow most people take care of their cars better than their own body!

Secondly hormonal imbalances... This takes time to balance out, but YES it can be done safely, naturally and effectively with herbs and whole food supplementation.  (This is what was causing my breakouts.)  Women, for example, are typically estrogen dominate for a number of reasons.  One being that people's livers are sluggish and estrogen backs up, plus all the soy and phytoestrogens in our diet.  

Women can also be progesterone deficient.  This happens for 1 of 2 reasons.  You may be progesterone deficient because you aren't making enough OR because you have so much estrogen that the ratio between estrogen and progesterone is so off balance that it appears you are low in progesterone because of the high levels of estrogen.  Moral of the story -  we have to balance out the hormones. There are herbs to help us achieve this naturally!  This is exactly what made the biggest change in me.  Men also have hormonal imbalances typically due to testosterone levels and these hormonal levels can be balanced out by natural supplementation as well!

Third is food allergies.  This is typically due to an allergy such as dairy or high levels of simple carbohydrates (sugars) and processed food.  Cleaning up the diet and even adding in a digestive aid can really make all the difference in the world.

My personal journey

I have really struggled with acne as I have gotten older.  It has been a frustrating battle.  I have done so many cleanses, cleaned out heavy metals, chemicals, candida, etc.  I felt so much better, but it only changed my skin mildly. I eat really clean and have been on digestive support and still no change.  I have done different topical ointments, toners and there was no major change.  I have also been on different hormonal regulators and female support supplements but it wasn't until I got on one that specifically helped raise my progesterone levels naturally that I found the BIGGEST change.  It was crazy how quick it kicked in.  

So I did more research, progesterone levels decrease with high amounts of stress.  This is why my acne flared up significantly with undergrad, but even more so with chiropractic school where my stress levels were through the roof. It all made sense!

I had been working on decreasing my estrogen levels by detoxes and focusing on supporting my liver, but until my progesterone levels increased my skin didn't change at all.  I have never been confident about my skin, but when I finally connected all the dots I have noticed a huge change and feel confident!

Now it isn’t perfect all the time. Right now as I type this my skin is broken out from doing a liver cleanse, but I know why- and know it will clear up when I am done. It is my body’s way of purging out toxins and I am okay with that.

NO not everyone's skin issues are like mine.  They could be due to any one of the factors above.  I have seen people's skin clear up within a week by simply getting rid of toxins.  Every single person's journey is different.

DO NOT put your children on antibiotics for acne.  This may work but for all the wrong reasons.  It kills all good and bad bacteria in their digestive environment and sets them up for so many immune issues down the road.  

My husband was on antibiotics for over a month when he was a teenager for acne.  His family didn't know what else to do like most people (and he didn't know me at the time ;).  As a long term result he had a lot of fatigue and allergies because of candida which is directly related to antibiotic use.  Every year he would get a sinus infection or 2 and get on more antibiotics.  He has done multiple candida detoxes to reestablish balance after being on so many antibiotics and his immune system is so much better and energy levels too! (PS- he hasn’t had a sinus infection in over 4 years since doing his first candida cleanse.)  

Other popular acne medications out there make it mandatory for females to take pregnancy tests while they are on the medication.  This is because if they are on it while pregnant it causes extreme birth defects in the fetus.  Pregnant or not why would you want to put that in your body?! Safe and natural is the way to go, and even better there are no side effects! 

Please do not hesitate to call the office or email if you struggle with acne or know any teenagers that do and want help. Remember you skin is an external reflection of what is going on internally.

There are natural, safe and effective ways to combat acne and we want to help you do it!

Vinegar: A Must Have Household Item

Vinegar is my go to product for fabric softener and rinse aid.

It seems so simple right? I thought so too, but it works great! Vinegar is a must have for your laundry routine and dish routine!  For laundry, it reduces static, brightens colors, fights stains, and more.  For dishes, it will make them sparkle! Plus, you're cutting out so many unnecessary chemicals when using vinegar.  And no, your clothes and dishes won’t smell like vinegar. I promise. 

I actually ran across this when my washer was leaving spots on my clothes. After some research this is actually what washing machine experts (is that a thing?!) want you to use! Why?  Because fabric softeners contain paraffin (wax) which builds up in the fabric softener compartment and can cause issues.

So, go grab yourself a large bottle of vinegar and get started! And it is much more cost friendly than those expensive bottles of fabric softener or little bottle of rinse aid. A win win!

For Laundry
Add one cup to the fabric softener dispenser
For Dishes
Pour vinegar into rinse aid dispenser on your dishwasher
For hand washing, add 1 cup of vinegar to rinse water

Want to take it a step further?  You can also infuse the vinegar with oils or natural herbs. Check out this post from Hello Glow to learn more!
 

DIY Dry Shampoo

The struggle is real with washing your hair all the time to combat the oil- especially after working out.  A patient gave me this recipe and it has been game changer!  I have used dry shampoo sprays before but can’t stand the smell (all sorts of chemical and toxic junk). This is so simple, natural and lasts longer than traditional dry shampoo!

Ingredients
1/4 cup Arrowroot powder
Optional: 5 drops of your favorite essential oil (I personally love Lavender or Juniper Berry)

I sprinkle a little on my scalp and use a brush to rub it in.  I have read where people dip an old makeup brush in the powder and use over the areas that need it.

Don't worry, brunettes, we have you covered too.  A lot of brunettes cannot use dry shampoo because it leaves a white residue in their hair.  Arrowroot powder is white and best for blonde or light hair, but add some cocoa powder to the mix and it is perfect for people with dark hair!  Add equal parts arrowroot and cocoa powder and your favorite essential oils.

Refreshing Summertime Drink

With the summer heat and humidity in full force, who doesn’t need a tasty refreshing drink!  It is great for adults and kids and a great switch from the regular ol’ water. 

1 bottle of Pellegrino water
1 to 1 1/2 cups of raspberries or any other fruit you'd like to use
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 cup of ice

Blend all together and there you go!  You could even add a little honey or xylitol (for those on Candida Clear) to sweeten it up.  I personally didn’t think it needed it, but it is always an option.  I also didn’t use ice in mine (I personally don’t like ice in my drinks) and it works just as well- more of a flavored water versus an icy drink.  

Enjoy!

Sunburn Relief

We all love to spend time in the sun during the summer to get that perfect sun kissed look.  Sometimes suntanning turns into sun damage and leaves us searching for relief.  Instead of turning to products full of chemicals and additives, there's a simple, natural solution to soothe the skin.  I bet you already have this product in your pantry!

Coconut oil has many uses whether it's for cooking, cleaning, beauty or health products.  When you've spent too much time in the sun, use coconut oil on that painful sunburn.  Use multiple times a day to soothe and help the skin heal more quickly.

Cheap, simple and natural solution to help you and your family this summer!