Body Brushing & Exfoliation

The Importance of a Good Scrub! Body Brushing and Exfoliation

The skin is the largest organ of the human body – do you remember that from school?  Well, it’s true and without getting all biological, it’s also a major channel for absorption and elimination – both of good and bad things.

On a holistic level, if your skin is not healthy and functioning as it should be, it is a sign that something is not right within the ‘system’ of your body as it works to expel toxins or function with a lack of nutrients.

Conversely, if you put toxic materials (chemicals, or even seemingly harmless cleaning/beauty products) on your skin, these will be absorbed into your body, compounding the problem or creating more issues!

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Chia Breakfast Mix

Homemade ‘Chia Goodness’ Breakfast Mix

I came across, Chia Goodness recently while browsing some blogs for breakfast ideas, immediately fell in love with it and decided to try to make up my own version.  Now I should point out that being in the UK,  I have never seen Chia Goodness up close, or even tasted it, but the ingredients looked so appetising and I felt that it would be simple to knock up a batch of my own.

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Hankies

Are hankies socially acceptable these days?

Until the advent of the modern paper facial tissue in 1924, centuries had passed with people of all social classes utilising handkerchiefs or rags of some sort to blow/dab their noses, mop their brows, and dry the odd tear.

So nowadays, with disposable paper tissues available to everyone, why would you choose to use a hankie?  Aren’t these little squares of material disgusting, germ-spreading items which should be banished to a long-gone era?

Well, I beg to differ!

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Homemade, Natural Washing Solutions

Natural Washing Solutions…Soapnuts, Homemade Laundry Powder, and Vinegar

Yesterday I made up a new batch of laundry washing powder and realised I hadn’t done a cleaning post in a while so here I go…

As with all other cleaning products, we are conditioned to believe that we need to buy commercial washing powders or liquids to keep our clothes and laundry clean, free of stains, and smelling lovely.  Not only do these commercial products contain a plethora of chemicals which are harmful to the environment and humans, but the recent packaging ‘improvements’ now see so many of them in solid plastic tubs.  What was wrong with cardboard?!

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Mint Choc Smoothie

Mint Choc Smoothie

I’m in love with this smoothie and hopefully won’t wear out my obsession with it as I’ve been drinking it daily for the past 10 days!  Every day I wake up and think I’ll try something different but just have to go for this one again!

I modified Linda Wagner’s recipe (she also has some other great recipes) to get it to how I like it and to include coconut milk kefir which I have also been making every day as I’ve been trying to get as much coconut, and probiotics into my diet to help with some digestive issues.  I have a post coming up on kefir, and coconuts for health but want to make sure I’ve perfected my techniques and knowledge first.  With the addition of a significant amount of fresh mint, this is actually a green smoothie in disguise!

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Oil Pulling

Oil Pulling for tooth & gum health, and lots more…

Seeing as I’m slightly obsessed with tooth and gum health at the moment after homemade toothpaste, and bamboo toothbrushes, I thought it would be appropriate to write my third mouth-related post, on the subject of oil pulling.

Yes I know, most people stare at me blankly when I mention the phrase ‘oil pulling’ as it is definitely not well known in western culture.   With its roots in Ayurvedic medicine, oil pulling originates from India, though it was an Ukranian physician, Dr. Karach, who introduced the technique to the rest of the world in the early 90s, and claimed he had cured himself of a chronic blood disease in three days.

So, what on earth is oil-pulling and why should you try it?

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Bamboo toothbrushes

Bamboo toothbrushes!

Following on from my last post on homemade toothpaste, I was inspired to scour the internet looking for environmentally friendly toothbrushes.  I came across, The Environmental Toothbrush and just had to try it!

The Environmental Toothbrush was designed by an Australian dentist who was shocked to discover that in Australia ‘over 30 million toothbrushes are used and disposed of by Australians each year, amounting to approximately 1000 tonnes of landfill each year.  The plastic they’re made of won’t break down in our lifetime.  Nor within the lifetime of our children.’

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Homemade Toothpaste

Homemade Toothpaste

It’s been about six months since I last brushed my teeth regularly with commercial toothpaste.  And yes my teeth are still here and healthy, and they are actually whiter than before.

The reason I switched to making my own toothpaste was twofold: firstly I didn’t want to put more chemicals in my mouth or body, and secondly I couldn’t bear the thought of throwing away endless empty tubes or pumps over my lifetime.  The thought of this, multiplied by all the people doing the same around the world, fills me with despair – literally.  Not to rant too much but where does it all go?!!!  I know not everyone will care as much as me, or start making their own, but why aren’t the manufacturers finding better ways to package things?  Oh yes, I remember, it’s all down to money….

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Declutter

Decluttering my life…

I’ve never been a hoarder.  In fact I’m quite the opposite and will often have clear outs and give things away, to the point where several times I have wondered where something that I wanted was, only to remember that I don’t have it anymore!

This habit of ‘anti-hoarding’ was partly just down to my personality – I hate clutter and actually get stressed out when there is too much ‘stuff’ in my life – but also down to my choices through life.  I’ve moved houses and countries countless times, with each move requiring a re-evaluation of what is truly important to me, and what I need to let go of.

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Fruit leather

Fruit Leather (fruit wind ups/roll ups or whatever you want to call them!)

Over the past few years dried fruit snacks, especially for children, have become more popular.  If you go into any supermarket or health shop now you will find an array of options, some containing dubious additional ingredients such as sugar, preservatives and additives, and some simply dehydrated fruit.

The pure fruit snacks taste great and are not bad, except that they are expensive.  So why not make your own?

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Elsewhere

About Me…

I am Danella, a folk-rock singer/songwriter with a passion to explore life and our world, as well as alternative, sustainable ways of living
and health.