Homemade Face Wash + My Beauty Routine

Some of you may have heard of Bronner's Magic Soap, or seen in it in the store but have no idea what to do with it.  That used to be me too!

Bronner's is a castile soap which is made of natural oils and essential oils.  They make all different kinds ranging from peppermint to eucalyptus to lavender to unscented.  On the bottle is says it has 18 different uses, however one of my favorite uses is for face wash! It leaves my face feeling very clean and like there is no left over residue.  It lasts forever and you don't need to use very much at all.

I use a small squirt bottle and fill it half way up with the liquid Bronner's and half up with water.  I just need one pump for my face, so my mixture lasts forever!  It lathers up great and makes my face feel so clean.  It’s great for people with normal to oily skin, but may not be the best for those with dry skin.

Three times a week I use the exfoliating face wash by Beautycounter. I find that it makes my face super smooth and helps to get rid of the dead skin. You don’t have to use it every day, but it is a good addition to your weekly beauty routine. (P.S. all Beautycounter products are amazing!)

And don't forget to moisturize! Coconut oil is a great moisturizer, or Beautycounter has some great options as well.

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!

Oven Baked Carrot Fries

Have your fries and eat them too!  This is guilt free, simple recipe and a great alternative to fries. It's the perfect side for any dinner and a great way to help kids eat their veggies!

Ingredients
Carrots
Coconut Oil
Seasoning of choice (I like to use Borsari)

Peel your carrots and cut into 3 inch pieces.  Then cut in 1/2 lengthwise then in 1/2 lengthwise again to get the width of fries.  Lightly rub coconut oil on the carrot sticks and grease a baking pan with it.  Season the carrots with sea salt and pepper and cook for 20 minutes on 400 degrees.

That's it!  They are very tasty and have a hint of sweetness to them.  Enjoy!
 

Perfect Plantain Pancakes

Hi everyone!  Becca here to tell you about one of my favorite pancake recipes.  Sunday mornings mean big breakfasts in our house.  Since going gluten free and then grain free, I have searched for a decent pancake or waffle recipe.  Some recipes were absolute flops-no pun intended- and others were pretty good.  It wasn't until I found this recipe on one of my favorite blogs that I finally found a permanent replacement.  

This recipe is completely whole foods! No grains, no dairy, no gluten!  Best yet, it is kid approved and delicious!   Since Emery is in school, I have been making 2 batches each Sunday.  One for breakfast and the other to freeze and send to school each day as a snack.  He loves them!  Use with your favorite Grade B pure maple syrup and enjoy!

Ingredients
2 large green plantains
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 Tbsp Coconut Oil
1/8 tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
2 tsp of cinnamon
Any other fun add-ins (blueberries, chocolate chips, pecans)
Extra coconut oil for frying

Instructions
1. The green plantains are pretty hard to peel.  I have found it is easiest to cut each plantain into a few pieces and then gently slice through the peel.  

2. Place the peeled plantains and the eggs into your food processor or Vitamix/Ninja.  Blend to form a smooth batter.

3. Add everything else to the food processor and mix for another 30 seconds.

4. Lightly oil your pan and pour batter for your waffle or pancake. Allow to cook for about 5 minutes or until the sides are starting to starting to brown and firm up. Flip!  And cook on the second side for 1½-2 minutes.

Recipe adapted from The Paleo Mom.

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!
 

Healthy Chocolate Pudding

I have experimented with a couple different recipes for chocolate pudding and this is my favorite so far!

All you need is unsweetened cocoa, almond milk or other milk substitute, xylitol or honey and chia seeds. Chia seeds are packed full of nutrients, fiber and healthy omega 3 fatty acids which are great for the heart and brain!

Instructions
Mix together 1 cup almond milk, 3 tablespoons chia seeds, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons xylitol or honey.  You can add more depending on how sweet you like it! Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes and then enjoy!

When you first put all the ingredients together the cocoa may sit at the top and not mix well because of the cold almond milk.  After 5 minutes it will start to settle in.  After ten minutes do a final stir and everything should be mixed together perfectly.

This is the perfect recipe to customize to your liking. Raspberries, almonds or coconut would be really yummy with this pudding!

Enjoy.

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.

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!

Healthy Mashed 'Potatoes'

In the south mashed potatoes are a big deal.  The butter, the salt - it all gets in the way when you're trying to eat clean.  I'll let you in on a secret though, there's a health alternative out there and it is... cauliflower! 

You may not believe me until you try it but they really do taste like mashed potatoes!  Personally I am not a fan of raw or even cooked cauliflower, but when it is made into ‘mashed potatoes’ I love it.  I feel so much better when I eat this version too versus white potatoes where I get bloated and tired after eating them. 

 All you need is one head of cauliflower, a little butter or coconut oil, and some sea salt and pepper.

 First, steam the cauliflower for about 15 minutes and then cut off the stems.  Put the steamed cauliflower in a blender or Ninja and blend right up!  You can even mash them in a bowl like you would potatoes.  Then add a few tablespoons of butter or coconut oil as well as sea salt and pepper.

Add some chives or some other healthy toppings.  It is yours to customize!

Bug Bite Remedy

Summer is here and so are the bugs!  It's hard to enjoy time outside when the bugs won't leave you alone.  Want to know how I help relieve itching from those pesky bites?

1. Put Tei Fu Essential Oil on the itchy bug bites.  This helps to quickly stop the itch!
2. Put Silver Shield Gel on the bug bites to help them heal faster!  It is antibacterial and parasitic too, so its great for any type of bug bite including spider bites. 

Both are available in the office or online through Nature Sunshine.  The Tei Fu Essential Oil stock number is (1618-7) and Silver Shield Gel stock number is (4950-1).  

Hope this helps against all those pesky bugs out there! 

Homemade Fruit Fly Trap

Summer time is for fresh fruit, and fresh fruit means the occasional fruit fly.  I found this recipe for a homemade fruit fly trap and it WORKED.  I trap almost all of my pesky fruit flies at home with this simple trick. 

All you have to do is put a little dish soap in a bowl and fill with water. Make sure you have plenty of bubbles since this is what traps them. Next add a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in the water to help lure them to the bowl.  That's it!

Put a fresh bowl out each morning and night.

For more information on where I got this idea and another great blog to follow click here.  Enjoy!