Secret to Silky Smooth Hair

I have been growing my hair out for the past year and thought I would pass along a quick tip for shiny, smooth hair.

It's simple...just fill a small spray bottle with olive oil from your kitchen, then before you plan on showering, lightly spray your hair, comb through, let it sit for about 5 minutes. I usually twist my hair up into a clip. Then wash/condition as you normally would. It only takes an extra 5 minutes and you will notice a difference right away!

I recommend this treatment once a week.

I Made My Own Lotion (and I love it)!

Not long ago I mentioned that I was attempting to make my own Herbal Healing Lotion. I finally got a chance to do it and I love it. It turned out a little thicker than I would personally like. I probably went a little overboard on the beeswax and would use less next time. Otherwise I love this lotion. It is very moisturizing and healing. Here are the directions for what to do.

Herbal Healing Lotion

1 ounce Calendula infused oil
1 ounce Comfrey infused oil
1 ounce St. John's Wort infused oil
1 ounce plantain infused oil
10 drops Vitamin E Oil
20 drops Lavender essential oil
1/2 ounce Beeswax (Carnauba or Candelillla Wax may be used for a Vegan salve) (Add more if you want a thicker salve and less if you want a thinner lotion.)

Place herbal infused oils and Beeswax over a double boiler and gently heat until the Beeswax melts. Remove from heat and add Lavender Essential Oil and Vitamin E Oil. Quickly pour into prepared tins or glass jars and allow to cool completely. The salve will last for at least a year, and is best kept in a cool and dark area such as a cupboard or cabinet.

How to make your own herbal infused oil

1. Solar Method: Fill a glass jar 1/4 full of dried herb and then cover with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or other oil of choice) leaving at least 1-2" of oil above the herbs to allow the herbs to swell. Place jar in a sunny window and shake once or twice per day. Allow the oil to infuse for at least 4 to 6 weeks, or until the oil takes on the color and scent of the herb. Once that oil is ready, strain using cheesecloth, and bottle into amber bottles for storage. Make sure to squeeze as much oil as possible from the herbs and cheesecloth so that you do not waste any precious oil! The infused oils may be used alone, or used within herbal preparations such as salves, massage oils, creams, lotions, or anything else you desire! Herbal Oils will keep for approximately a year if stored properly in a dark and cool place. Vitamin E Oil may also be added to prolong shelf life. This is the preferred way of making Herbal Infused Oils, however if you live in an area such as I do where the sun doesn't shine much in the winter, there is an alternate method for making these oils on the stove.





2. Stove-top Method: Another way to infuse oils, is the double boiler or crock-pot method. Much care needs to be taken when creating herbal oils this way because you do not want to deep-fry your herbs! Place herbs in a crock-pot or double boiler, and cover with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or other oil of choice) leaving at least an inch of oil above the herbs. Gently heat the herbs over very low heat for 1-5 hours until the oil takes on the color and scent of the herb. Some texts recommend heating the oil 48-72 hours at a controlled temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn off the off the heat and allow to cool. Once the oil is ready, strain using cheesecloth and bottle into amber bottles for storage.

Perhaps you don't have the time or inclination to make your own lotion - some aren't as crazy as me. Here are the healing properties of some of the ingredients. Look for these when you purchase your own skin care products!

• Calendula - otherwise known as the common marigold is known for it's healing and pain relieving properties.



• St John's Wort or Hypericum perforatum is a calming herb, emollient and skin softener. It works great on dry, irritated skin, damaged hair and dry scalp.



• Vitamin E Oil is the most potent antioxidant vitamin. It protects the skin from cancer causing free radicals and is essential for proper utilization of oxygen in the tissues.



• Comfrey is a wonderful herb that encourages healing in any tissue when used either topically or internally. It's great for skin, but also beneficial when used on open wounds, sores, or burns.



• Lavender Oil has soothing and antiseptic properties when applied to the skin. Of course we love it's beautiful fragrance too.



• Beeswax, Carnauba, and Candellilla wax are all used as natural thickening agents, but each imparts it's own moisturizing and protecting barrier for the skin.

Karla

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide is a weak, nearly colorless acid that was discovered by Louis Jacques Thénard in 1818 (Wikipedia.com). It's basically made up of water and oxygen. Manufacturers have used this acid to bleach paper products, produce rocket fuel and propel submarines through the water. Hydrogen Peroxide is so versatile that it can also be used for many tasks in your home. (The strength you'll use at home is the 3% grade.)

Here are 10 awesome uses for Hydrogen Peroxide:

1. Whiten Your White Laundry

Pour in a cup of hydrogen peroxide into a washer load of white laundry instead of chlorine bleach and it will whiten your clothes. Don't pour it directly on your clothes. It can fade out the color just like bleach does!

2. Sanitize Your Kitchen Surfaces

Mix up a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and tap water and pour it into a spray bottle. Use it to sanitize your kitchen counter tops, clean appliances and help keep your kitchen germ-free. Note: Mix up only as much as you'll use at one time. If you don't store hydrogen peroxide in its brown bottle, light will break down its chemical makeup.

3. Sanitize Public Drinking Fountains

Did you know you can get contagious diseases like Trenchmouth from using public drinking fountains? Carry a small container of hydrogen peroxide with you so you can sanitize fountains before you drink from them. Just splash some peroxide on the spout and let it set for several seconds. Then turn the water on and let it run to the count of five before you drink from it.

4. Kill Fingernail and Toenail Fungus

Soak your fingernails or toenails in a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide every day and it will kill harmful fungus.

5. Make a Homemade Tooth Whitener

Swish a teaspoon full of 3% strength hydrogen peroxide in your mouth for five to ten minutes every day. It will kill harmful germs and bacteria. It will also act as a homemade tooth whitener!

6. Help Houseplants Grow Healthier

Mix up an ounce of hydrogen peroxide into a cup of water and spray your houseplants with this solution. It will help your houseplants grow greener and more lush.

7. Remove Harmful Pesticides From Fruits and Veggies

Pour a fourth of a cup of hydrogen peroxide into a sink of cold tap water. Place your fruits and veggies in the solution and wash them off well. Then, rinse each piece off with tap water and dry.

8. Clear Up Skin Acne

Use a clean cotton ball to generously dab straight hydrogen peroxide onto skin acne two or three time a day. The peroxide will dry the problem up in no time at all!

9. Remove Waxy Build Up From Your Ears

Tilt your head and use an eye dropper to put three or four drops of hydrogen peroxide into the ear that has the waxy build up. Let it set for several minutes. Then, use a syringe and flush your ear out carefully with warm water. Dry your ear with a soft, clean cloth.

10. Kill Germs in Your Bathroom

Mix together equal parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide and tap water and pour it into a spray bottle. Use this solution to kill germs in your bathroom and keep it smelling clean!

And here is one more use...my dentist recently recommended that I use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash. Here is how:

Using hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash is simple: just swish some 1% to 3% hydrogen peroxide (straight or diluted in 50% water as was recommended to me) around in your mouth, then spit it out. Like you'd do with any kind of mouthwash, right?

Why 1% to 3%? Some people feel that 3% is a bit strong to use as a mouthwash. You can try 3%, or water it down with some water. (Some 3% hydrogen peroxide with an equal amount of water added will give you 1.5% hydrogen peroxide.)

Hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash will kill bacteria and viruses in your mouth. However, it takes time for hydrogen peroxide to work, so this is not going to remove all the bacteria and viruses in your mouth – it will just lessen them.

Hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash can taste a bit weird. Also, any time hydrogen peroxide is killing germs, it will foam -- so there can be some foaming when you are using hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash.

If you want to get at the bacteria in your gums, try it this way: brush your teeth, then floss between your teeth, and then swish with peroxide. This way any gunk is out of the way, and the peroxide can get in to the gums more easily. Swishing for a minute or longer will be more effective than a shorter swish.

I have to say from personal experience, rinsing with hydrogen peroxide gives you that smooth, clean, fresh-from-the-dentist feeling!

- Shannan

Sources: Using Hydrogen Peroxide, Associated Content

Super Natural Ingredients

I recently picked up some Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion shampoo and conditioner. It boasts a blend of natural ingredients, along with some unnatural ones as it is a commercial hair care product like cassia, ginger, calendula and aloe vera. Curious to know what these and other natural ingredients contribute to hair and skin products, I compiled the following quick reference (with the help of Real Simple magazine).

• aloe vera - Good for: As it is anti-inflammatory, it is soothing, toning, protective and moisturizing to the skin.


• argan oil - Good for: Quenching dryness, minimizing lines and possibly reducing oiliness.


• avocado - Good for: Hydrating hair and skin. May help cuts heal.


• calendula - Good for: Apart from the great anti-inflammatory properties, it also has good vulnerary properties (preventing tissue degeneration while arresting bleeding in wounds), making it excellent to help with stubborn wounds, ulcers, bedsores, varicose veins, bruises, rashes, eczema etc.
  
• coconut - Good for: Making hair shinier and skin more supple.


• cucumber - Good for: Depuffing tired eyes and neutralizing oil without overydrying the skin.


• feverfew - Good for: Soothing irritation and inflammation.


• ginger - Good for: Added to your bath it stimulates circulation and helps remove toxins from your body. Ginger can also be added to your foot bath to soften the hard skin of your feet as well as deodorize smelly feet.


• grapeseed - Good for: Helping skin retain firmness.


• green tea - Good for: Preventing sun damage and treating blemishes.


• jojoba - Good for: Soothing irritation withn added to typically drying products, such as hand sanitizers and toners.


• licorice - Good for: Calming inflammation and helping to diminish the appearance of acne scars.


• olive oil - Good for: Moisturizing skin and healing sunburns.


• rose - Good for: Softening wrinkles.


• sunflower - Good for: Protecting skin and hair from sun damage.
  

And don't forget about the list of ingredients to avoid in your commercial cosmetic products.

- Shannan

Ten Synthetic Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid And Why

I don't know if you struggle like I do to read ingredient decks of beauty products. Most of the ingredients are written in Greek and even completely natural ingredients have some sort of 20 letter scientific name that sounds ominous. I found a great list of the top 10 synthetic cosmetic ingredients to avoid and why to avoid them. Check the products you use at home already and print off a handy list to take with you shopping to make choosing the right products simpler.

1. Methyl, Propyl, Butly, and Ethyl Paraben (or the ugly paraben sisters): These are used to inhibit microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. At the very least they cause many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Even more concerning, studies are showing that they are weakly estrogenic and could be carcinogenic.


2. Diethanolamine (DEA), Trethanolamine (TEA): These chemicals emulsify or cause a product like shampoo or soap to foam. Unfortunately they also cause allergic reactions, eye irritation and dryness of hair and skin. DEA and TEA are "amines" (ammonia compounds) and can form cancer-causing nitrosamines when they come in contact with nitrates. They are especially toxic when absorbed into the body over a long period of time.


3. Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea: These chemicals are used as preservatives. The American Academy of Dermatology has found them to be a primary cause of contact dermatitis. Both of these chemicals release formaldehyde which can be toxic


4. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate: This is a cheap, harsh detergent used in shampoos for its cleansing and foam-building properties. It is often derived from petroleum. These chemicals are known to cause eye irritation, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, skin rashes and other allergic reactions.


5. Petrolatum: Another name for this is petroleum jelly. This mineral oil is used for it's emollient properties in cosmetics and because it's extremely cheap to use as opposed to vegetable based plant oils which actually contain some nutritive value for the skin. The problem is that it can interfere with the bodies own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dryness and chapping - the very conditions it's supposed to correct.


6. Propylene Glycol: Ideally this is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. More often though it's a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. It has been known to cause allergic reactions, hives, and eczema. Also watch out for PEG (polyethlyene glycol) or PPG (polypropylene glycol).


7. PVP/VA Copolymer: A petroleum-derived chemical used in hairsprays, styling aids and other cosmetics. It can be considered toxic, since inhaled particles can damage the lungs of sensitive persons.


8. Stearalkonium Chloride: A quaternary ammonium compound used in hair conditioners and creams. Developed by the fabric industry as a fabric softener, it is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair conditioning formulas than proteins or herbals, which are beneficial to the hair. This chemical is toxic and causes allergic reactions.


9. Synthetic Colors: These are labeled with FD&C or D&C followed by a color and a number. Many synthetic colors can be carcinogenic.


10. Synthetic Fragrances: When you see "Fragrance" listed on an ingredient deck, it can contain as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals you are being exposed too. Many report symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, rash, hyperpigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritation, and etc, after using products with synthetic fragrances.

I hope this list is helpful as you try to weed out the harmful chemicals from your skin and beauty products.

Does anyone have a favorite brand of natural beauty product they want to share? Give our readers some ideas of brands to try.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Karla

Super Simple Body Butter

I recently got this great body butter recipe from a friend and love it. It is so easy; great for your skin; inexpensive; and completely natural. Try it for yourself.

• 1/2 cup coconut oil (I purchased mine from Wilderness Family Naturals or Tropical Traditions). Click here to find out all the great health benefits of coconut oil.
• 1/4 cup cocoa butter (I purchased this from Mountain Rose Herbs) Cocoa butter is a very stable fat containing natural antioxidants that prevent rancidity and giving it a storage life of two to five years. The moisturizing abilities of cocoa butter are frequently recommended for prevention of stretch marks in pregnant women, treatment of chapped skin and lips, and as a daily moisturizer to prevent dry, itchy skin.
• Add your favorite essential oil until you get the desired strength. (I used lavender...I love lavender).

This is such a great moisturizer. I use it on myself and my kids after their baths and it feels so clean and safe!

What is your favorite essential oil and why?

Karla

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil

Recently a wonderful company called Tropical Traditions sent me a jar of coconut oil to try and post about. This was perfect timing as Shannan had just written her post about the health benefits of coconut oil and I really wanted to try it for myself.

I could begin and end this post with the simple statement that I absolutely loved the product, but I should tell you more about them.

Brian and Marianita Shilhavey started the company in 1998 when they moved back to Marianita's hometown in the Philippines. Marianita had grown up on a coconut plantation and used coconut oil her entire life growing up. She watched the tremendous health benefits it bestowed to her friends and family. She knew how to extract the oil the traditional way not using machines, heat, or refining. Tropical Traditions still extracts all of their coconut oil this way.

I loved the coconut oil. I put it in smoothies. I cooked with it. I used it for baking. Just ask my son, it made the best scones. I used it on my face and body for lotion with great results. My feet have never been so soft and smooth. I haven't used this coconut oil long enough to experience all of the great health benefits listed in Shannan's post, but I can tell you that Tropical Traditions has a great product and if you are interested in trying coconut oil, you should check them out.

Brian and Marianita also sell a wide variety of other high quality products. In addition to their coconut oil they have added many other healthy organic products to their website. These include things like teas, spices, pasta, household cleaners, and skin care products. Check out their website.


If you are interested in doing some deeper reading on the health benefits of coconut oil, let me recommend Brian and Marianita's book entitled Virgin Coconut Oil. The book begins by telling the story of how Tropical Traditions got started. It then goes into great detail describing all of the health benefits gained by consuming coconut oil and gives great testimonials from real people who have experienced changes in their health after consuming the oil There are chapters on improving your thyroid health, ridding yourself of Candida infections, and even using the oil to improve your pet's health. It contains over 85 recipes and ways to use coconut oil. It's a fantastic resource.

-Karla

Making Your Own Herbal Shampoo

If you've been a regular here at Living A Whole Life, you know that Shannan and I have been delving into the world of making our own natural beauty and cleaning products. We've had some really great successes and in many cases found that we like the simple homemade products better than their more expensive commercially made counterparts. So far we've tried making our own tooth whitener, facial cleanser, toothpaste, coconut oil body moisturizer, and household cleaners. I decided to branch out and see what would happen if I made my own shampoo. Here is a basic recipe that I found at Mountain Rose Herbs.


Herbal Shampoo

1/2 cup distilled water

2 tablespoons dried or 1/3 cup fresh chamomile (for light hair), lavender(for darker hair), or rosemary (for darker hair)

1/4 cup liquid natural soap, such as castile (I used Dr. Bronner's castile soap with lavender)

1/2 teaspoon light vegetable oil (omit if very oily hair)

2 tablespoons glycerin

Mix together the water and herbs and heat gently to make a strong tea. Let the mixture steep for at least 20 minutes. Add liquid soap, vegetable oil and glycerin to the herbal water mixture and stir well.


How did I like my homemade shampoo you might be asking?? I noticed three things...

• The homemade shampoo's consistency was very watery. This kind of bothered me at first. I mean it was hard to get the shampoo from the container to my hair without losing it. I went on a search to find out what thickens shampoo and if there was anything natural I could add. What I realized though is that most thickeners are chemically based and added to shampoo for aesthetic reasons. They do nothing for our hair and can even cause build-up among other things. I did find a how to on adding egg to shampoo to thicken the shampoo and egg has great nutritive value for your hair.


• The homemade shampoo didn't lather quite as well as commercial shampoo. This again is usually attained by smoke and mirrors in commercial shampoo. Chemicals such as sodium laureth sulfate are added to shampoo to create a rich lather that does nothing for the hair. It's funny how we have come to equate a thick luxurious foaming shampoo with ending up with beautiful hair and those things are often the worst thing about shampoo.


• After using the simple homemade shampoo, my hair felt amazingly clean and very soft!! Will I do it again? Absolutely! I love the simplicity. The shampoo smelled amazing and felt so clean.

Here are a few other simple, natural things to try at home to clean and condition your hair.

Sesame Coconut Protein Conditioner

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons light sesame oil

2 whole eggs

2 tablespoons coconut milk

2 tablespoons honey

1 tsp coconut oil

Whisk together and apply to hair. Rinse.

Deep Conditioners

• Dry Hair: Mix together coconut oil, banana, avocado, and mayonnaise.


• Normal Hair: Mayonnaise, egg, olive oil, and unflavored yogurt.


• Oily Hair: Add a little lemon juice (1 to 2 teaspoons) to the products for normal hair.

Make enough of the above to cover hair and apply to clean, damp hair. Wrap your hair with a towel, saran wrap, or shower cap to hold in heat and open up the hair follicles for deep conditioning. Wait 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly with cool water. Follow with a shampoo.

Hair Rinses

• Lemon Juice: The juice of 1 lemon mixed with 1 cup of water brings back life and shine to dull hair.


• Baking soda: 1 tablespoon baking soda mixed with 1 cup of water removes hair spray and gel residue.


• Apple cider vinegar: 1/2 cup vinegar mixed with 2 cups of water gives your hair shine and bounce.


• Rosemary: 4 tablespoons rosemary mixed with 2 cups of water. Boil the rosemary in water for 10 minutes then strain. Pour over shampooed hair to help dull hair.


• Spearmint: 3 teaspoons of spearmint mixed with 1 quart of water. Boil the water with spearmint leaves. Cool and refrigerate. Pour over shampooed hair to create shine and control oiliness.

Rinse your hair with the coolest water you can stand after using these rinses. Each recipe makes enough for one application.

Have you tried to make your own shampoo? I would love to hear about your successes!!

Karla

Natural Sunscreen

Call it wishful thinking, but according to my predictions the sun should be finding its way to Michigan soon for the summer. Besides all the fun that goes along with that, it brings to mind our daily need for sun protection. As usual, this got me thinking about natural alternatives to the traditional commerical sunscreens.

Keep in mind that 15 - 20 minutes 2 - 3 days per week of unprotected sun exposure is actually good for us. But, once you are done soaking up a dose of vitamin D, you and your kids will definitely want to be safe in the sun. This means more than just slathering on any old sunscreen you find in the drugstore.

Your first line of defense...

• Try to stay out of the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. when sunburn and sun damage is most likely to occur.


• Wear sun protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.


• Try to eat plenty of dark green, red and yellow fruits and vegetables, to keep your skin healthy and less prone to skin damage. There is some evidence that nutritional protection against sun damage is possible.
  
• There is also some evidence that coconut oil works as a sunscreen. No matter what, your skin can benefit from both the ingestion and topical use of coconut oil. If you do get a sunburn, try a little coconut oil to help soothe and heal your skin.

And when it comes to sunscreen, keep it "natural". Lucky for us, many of the companies that specialize in non-toxic body care products are now producing sunscreen with fewer harmful ingredients. Chemicals to be avoided include: parabens, which have been outed as estrogen mimics and endocrine disruptors, and other commonly used ingredients like benzophenone (onxybenzone), octinoxate, cinnamates and homosalate were found guilty of increasing the risk of cancer.

The two active sun protective ingredients that you will find even in "natural" sunscreens are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. According to everything I have read, these ingredients are considered fairly safe unless processed into nano-particles. Companies that produce sunscreens use processed titanium dioxide and zinc oxide so that their product will be transparent. As you know, if you were to apply pure titanium or zinc to your face it would be an opaque white color. This is great for protecting your skin from harmful rays, but doesn't look so hot. The issue with nano-particles is that they can enter the body through the skin potentially causing harm.

So what alternatives do you have? Check out SafeMama's Safer Sunscreen Cheat Sheet for some brands to try. You may also want to take a look at The Environmental Working Group's Sunscreen Database. This list has a hazard rating for each sunscreen and provides a comprehensive list of ingredients for each product.

I will certainly be reading labels and checking out the natural products this summer. Please let us know if you already have a favorite!

Shannan

Terra Firma Cosmetics Giveaway

I am so excited to be able to bring you another great giveaway! You know how much we like natural skincare around here and thanks to Terra Firma Cosmetics we are able to offer our readers a chance to win a 6 Piece HydraSilk Dream Kit (Retail Value $64.95).

Terra Firma offers mineral cosmetics manufactured with a focus on safe, natural and healthy ingredients. You won't find any petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, parabens, synthetic pigments or dyes in any of their products and the minerals used are uncoated (no silicones like Dimethicone or Cyclomethicone are used) and kept as close to nature as possible.

In addition, these cosmetics include sun protection (very important) which comes from a fine grade of Tytanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide that is considered non-carcinogenic due to its inability to penetrate the healthy layers of your skin. The mineral make-up is also water resistant.

The 6 piece HydraSilk Dream Kit includes: HydraSilk" Foundation - 50g (vol), "Airbrush" Prime/Set Powder - 30g (vol), "Radiance" Blush - 20g (vol), "Enhance" Bronzer - 20g (vol) and "Eliminate" Concealer - 10g (vol).

Now how do you enter to win this great prize? There are several ways...

1. Visit the Terra Firma Cosmetics site and leave us a comment about a product you like, something interesting you learned or a product you would love to try.

- OR -

2. Leave a comment on why you would like to win this great prize.

- OR -

3. Tweet about this giveaway: "I just entered to win a Terra Firma Cosmetics Dream Kit at http://www.livingawholelife.blogspot.com/. You can too!"
(Then leave us a comment that you tweeted please.)

Entries will be accepted through Thursday, April 9th at 11:59 p.m. EST. The winner will be announced Saturday, April 10th.

Good luck!

Follow us on Twitter! wholemom, karlaheaman, momogirl

Coconut Oil - Good for you inside and out

Based on recommendations from a few of our readers, I just purchased my first jar of Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I had heard that coconut oil was a great moisturizer, but once I began researching a little further, I was literally amazed by the health benefits this oil offers. Since there are tons of great posts on the benefits of coconut oil, I have picked from my favorites and compiled a list of how this amazing (and economical) oil can help you both on the inside and out.

Why should you consume coconut oil?
The benefits of consuming coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti fungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.

The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia. As a result of these various health benefits of coconut oil, though its exact mechanism of action was unknown, it has been extensively used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system.

Coconut oil is often preferred by athletes and body builders and by those who are dieting. The reason behind this being that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and enhances the performance of athletes.

Health and beauty benefits of coconut oil include:

• Heart Diseases: There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for the heart. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. However, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as it happens in case of other vegetables oils. It does not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.


• Weight Loss: Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight


• Pancreatitis: Coconut oil is also believed to be useful in treating pancreatitis.


• Digestion: Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.


• Immunity: Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have anti fungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.


• Healing: When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.


• Infections: Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its anti fungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, etc. Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, etc.


• Liver: The presence of medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids helps in preventing liver diseases as they substances are easily converted into energy when they reach the liver, thus reducing work load on the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.


• Kidney: Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney stones.


• Diabetes: Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.


• Bones: As mentioned earlier, coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for development of bones. Thus coconut oil is very useful to women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.


• Dental Care: Calcium is an important element present in teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in getting strong teeth. Coconut oil also stops tooth decay.


• HIV and Cancer: It is believed that coconut oil plays an instrumental role in reducing viral susceptibility of HIV and cancer patients.


• Hair Care: Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shiny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged air. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is normally applied topically for hair care.


• Stress Relief: Coconut oil is very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress. Applying coconut oil to the head followed with a gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue.


• Skin Care: Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Further, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin with the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.


• Premature Aging: Coconut oil helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its antioxidant properties.

Consider how many beauty products (and containers) you could eliminate by having some coconut oil on hand. Organic virgin coconut oil can be used for all of the following:

• All-over body moisturizer


• Hot oil hair treatment, combined with equal parts extra virgin olive oil


• Cuticle oil


• Eye make-up remover (even works on waterproof mascara)


• Body scrub, mixed with brown sugar or sea salt


• Overnight foot treatment (slather feet & put on some cotton socks)


• Face mask, mix with a little raw honey (for the antibacterial properties)


• Deep conditioner for hair (click here for several recipes)

As far as eating coconut oil goes, my container recommends that you consume 3 tablespoons of coconut oil per day. Consider using coconut oil as follows:

• As cooking oil (it has a high heat tolerance)


• Like butter on toast or muffin


• In your smoothie (I think mixing with some tropical fruits sounds yummy)


• Some people just eat it by the spoonful
  

Other fun facts about coconut oil:

• It does not get rancid like other oils and may be kept unrefrigerated for up to a year.


• It melts at 76 degrees F. I love scooping out a bit and having it melt in my hand when I use as a moisturizer.

More research on coconut oil can be found here.

- Shannan

Sources: Organic Facts, Style 101, Eco Chick

Choosing the Right Toothpaste for your Family

Have you really looked at the back of a tube of toothpaste lately. I decided to for today's post and felt a little confused. Let's see...dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, sodium lauryl sulfate, cellulose gum, flavor (??), tetrasodium pyrophosphate, fluoride, sodium saccharin...and the list goes on. I'm no chemist so I had to head over to Wikipedia to check out what all this means. I found that one of these chemicals is an inorganic form of calcium and phosphate - the same form found in alot of kidney stones; one of the chemicals could cause mouth or "canker" sores; one is an ester of sulphuric acid and has been deemed "highly irritating" to skin and mucus membranes; another removes calcium and magnesium from your saliva to prevent tartar build-up (does that seem strange to anyone else - I might need that calcium and magnesium); and of course one is a known carcinogen (points if you guess the right one). I was bothered by what was listed on the toothpaste tube, but what bothered me more was the generic term "flavor" on the tube. Where does the "flavor" come from? Then there is the fluoride debate and studies are showing that fluoride may actually be harmful over time by causing flourosis. That coupled with a 2005 World Health Organization report that countries that fluoridate their water and toothpaste have the same rates of dental decay as countries that don't.

After looking at commercial toothpastes, I turned to a few natural toothpastes that my family has been using and really like. My kid's love Tom's Silly Strawberry. I mean seriously, they will go in the bathroom and brush their teeth without me asking and sometimes several times throughout the day. For myself and my husband we have used Tom's Whole Care and Nature's Gate Cool Mint Gel. For the most part, these brands rate much better. Their flavors are clearly listed and they are from natural sources. We really like the taste and I can get my kids to brush with them. Unfortunately, they still contained a few suspect ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, calcium glycerophosphate, methylparaben, and zinc citrate trihydrate. Alot of natural toothpastes also contain fluoride.

I feel the need to say something here especially as I've spent some time this week reading about the 1,4 Dioxane controversy as it relates to natural lotions and soaps. Much of the cosmetic ingredient industry goes unregulated, but all companies, natural or not, must bring a product to market that will have a shelf life of 3 years. It must go three years without molding or growing bacteria. This is nearly impossible to do with a natural ingredient that was created to start decomposing as soon as it is picked or harvested. These companies add things (usually chemicals) to prevent this decomposition from happening. Natural companies mostly try to add safe things to do this. We don't always know if a product is safe or not. I'm not excusing deception or purposely adding known harmful chemicals to products. I guess I'm wondering if the trade-off for purchasing convenient commercially prepared products will always be some exposure to chemicals? Today it is 1,4 Dioxane, but the next preservative, emulsifying agent, or thickener is already out there and we think it's safe and it probably isn't. It follows my good, better, best theory. It's good to brush your teeth with something, even if it's commercial toothpaste :). It's better to brush with something more natural like Tom's or Nature's Gate. It's probably best if you have the time and resources (and you can get your kids to brush with it) to make your own toothpaste that doesn't have to last 3 years and doesn't have extra preserving ingredients.

And on that note...I found this recipe for making your own toothpaste. I think I might try it!

Ingredients

Baking soda (It's a natural cleansing agent and it polishes and whitens your teeth as well)

Table salt

Hydrogen Peroxide (This will naturally disinfect your teeth)

Stevia (This is optional, but will naturally sweeten the mix)

Peppermint oil (This is also optional as a flavoring agent.)

1. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into a mixing bowl.


2. Add a dash of salt.


3. Add 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide.


4. Add 1 drop of peppermint oil.


5. Add a dash of stevia (more if you want it sweeter).


6. Mix it all up until it becomes past like. You may be to add more hydrogen peroxide to get the right consistency.


7. Store in a glass jar to keep it from drying out.

Note: If you aren't a big fan of peppermint, try ground cinnamon or vanilla extract.

If you are looking to whiten your teeth - check out Shannan's post on Eco-friendly Beauty Tips which includes a recipe for natural teeth whitening.

I have to tell you that this post did not go where I was hoping. My intention was to guide you to a few natural toothpastes and somehow I ended up on a "soap" box. :) I considered scrapping the whole idea, but thought you might be trying to make some of the same decisions that I am and I hope the information was helpful. By the way, here is an interesting website I found while researching this post that describes certain beauty and cosmetic ingredients and rates their safety. Very helpful!

Karla

Oil Cleansing Method

A week ago I wrote a post on Eco-Friendly Beauty Habits. A couple of our readers then commented that they use the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) to remove make-up and wash their face. Of course I was intrigued so I sat down and read about how a combination of Caster Oil and Olive Oil or Sunflower Oil, can be used to deep clean and moisturize your face every evening. I know, it doesn't make sense at first that oil, which we are usually trying to remove from our skin, could actually deep clean it. Well, you know I just had to try it out!

After reading the directions thoroughly, I ran to my local drug store to pick up some caster oil. You may already have this around your house. Then I reached into the kitchen cabinet for my trusty olive oil. Based on the recommendations in the OCM post, I prepared 25% caster oil and 75% olive oil. As I have aged my skin is a little dryer in spots, but I still have oil in the T-zone of my face. I just used a teaspoon of caster and three teaspoons of olive oil to keep it simple. You may require more or less caster oil as it does have a drying effect.

I should probably back up a minute here before I let you know how it all turned out. Lately my skin has been kind of a nightmare. I have been breaking out around my chin, clearly PMS related acne and then recently at my temples and hairline, I have developed a bunch of small bumps and little red pimples. The kind you could really go crazy picking at. I also just switched daily cleansers and spent a lot of money on a daily 'anti-aging' moisturizer. I am officially middle aged in May and thought that maybe I should try heading off those fine lines and wrinkles at the pass.

So anyway, I headed to the bathroom, pulled my hair back, started running the hot water and poured the oil mixture into the palm of my hand. I was somewhat worried that I could wake up the next day with even more blemishes. According to the OCM, you should warm the oil between your hands and then start spreading it over your face gently massaging it into your skin. I spent extra time around my nose, chin, temples and hair line. Gosh it felt good. No harsh particles rubbing on my face, no strong perfumy smells and I could feel the eye make-up and mascara melting away.

Once I was confident that all my make-up was removed and I had thoroughly cleansed, I began the rinsing process. I placed a steamy hot wash cloth over my face and just held it there until it cooled. I repeated this step 3 or 4 more times gently running it over my face and eye area to remove any leftover mascara and oil. Once done, my skin felt clean and moisturized. Since I tend to feel dry around my eyes, I added a dab of the oil mixture underneath them, gently smoothed it in and left it.

The next morning I was amazed. My skin still felt clean and my problem areas showed signs of clearing up. I noticed right away the some redness had subsided and that my skin didn't have the look and feel of irritation I had been experiencing.

The next concern...you are not supposed to wash your face in the morning. Since I go to the gym in the morning I just went and did my workout without touching my face then simply rinsed in it in the shower afterward. I did feel a little dry under my eyes again so I dabbed some more oil in that area, applied my make-up as usual and repeated the OCM that night.

Final observations, my skin was less oily looking during the day. I was clearly not over-drying it so it wasn't over-producing and it looked and felt even better on the second morning. I am a believer!

Of course I mentioned this to both Karla because I know she would want to try it too and my mom, who suffers from Rosacea and can't use many commercial cleansers and moisturizers due to their content. Curious to hear what everyone else thinks.

Next I am going purchase some Coconut Oil, also recommended by one of our readers, to use as a body moisturizer after showering. Once again, no chemicals, inexpensive and easy!

Check out VitaCost for great prices on Caster Oil, Sunflower Oil and Coconut Oil.

Happy cleansing!
- Shannan

Eco-Friendly Beauty Habits

Over the past few days I have run across some natural, eco-friendly beauty tips to share. Most of these things are simple and can be incorporated into your beauty routine today.

1. Use a washcloth. Single-use synthetic cleaning pads or cloths may be handy but they also clog landfills. Consider removing makeup with a washcloth made from natural fibers such as bamboo. Plus, the textile taken from the pulp of bamboo grass is naturally resistant to bacteria - good for your face and your laundry pile.

2. Hold off on the H2O. Conserve water by exfoliating before you get under the spray. Some days, swap your favorite scrub for a natural-fiber-bristle brush, sweeping skin in short upward strokes.

3. Oil up. Post shower, pat damp skin with an organic oil such as almond or avocado to lock in moisture. Unlike lotion, oil penetrates skin almost instantly and you can be sure it doesn't contain an alphabet soup of chemicals like most commercial lotions.

4. Air dry. To save energy and cut down on the carbon dioxide created by your blow dryer, soak up excess water with a towel and let hair air dry almost completely before turning on the dryer. FYI, it would take two trees 10 years to absorb the carbon dioxide created from blow drying for 10 minutes a day for just one year.

5. Recycle. Check your bathroom waste basket before throwing out cardboard packaging, shampoo bottles, or glass perfume vials. We all make a habit of recycling in the kitchen so just make sure the bathroom recycling makes it to the bin, not the trash bag.

6. Rethink your razor. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 2 billion disposable razors wind up in landfills every year. To minimize waste, choose a razor that allows you to change the blades instead of tossing a plastic, non-biodegradable razor in the trash. Better yet, invest in an electric razor.


7. Make it yourself. One of the easiest and most rewarding ways to go green is to create your own beauty products. And in many cases, you'll find all the ingredients you need right in your own refrigerator or cupboard. Karla and I look forward to experimenting with and passing along lots of great 'beauty recipes' in the near future.

And speaking of making it yourself, here is one natural beauty remedy I tried today. It not only saves money, but will also save on excessive packaging and waste. Instead of buying teeth whitening strips, try the following homemade tooth whitener. I have to say I thought I noticed a small difference in color after one treatment and my teeth had that smooth, straight from the dentist feeling which tells me that no matter what, it got my teeth really clean!

Homemade Tooth Whitener

2 teaspoons Baking soda
2 teaspoons Hydrogen peroxide

Mix until it forms a runny paste. Brush your teeth with this solution and let it sit on your teeth for 2 minutes. Rinse with warm water and then brush your teeth with regular toothpaste to rid your mouth of the peroxide solution.

You shouldn't brush with this treatment more than once per week.

Note: If you have open sores, cavities, gingivitis or other gum diseases, this may make your gums appear white for a short time. It may not be the right whitener for your teeth if they are very sensitive.

- Shannan

Sources: Self Magazine, Quality Health, A Good Clean Life