DIY Toothpaste

You are going to think I'm crazy I'm sure, but I am PUMPED about my new toothpaste!  I know, I'm a weirdo.  Read on though.

Here is the backstory.   You see, I have always been picky about toothpaste.  I don't like the minty kinds.  I always went for cinnamon.  Let me tell you, there are not  a lot of choices in cinnamon, I remember like one choice at Target.  Then several years back I discovered how nasty fluoride is and so finding toothpaste that is cinnamon, has no fluoride and tastes decent was really a chore.  I found a few and they were OK, but I was not really in love.  Plus they were expensive, like $6- $8 a tube.  I started using On Guard toothpaste and really liked it and then I learned about carageenan.  Do you know about it?  Briefly here is what I know - it is a food additive and it produces inflammation.  I don't need anything in my body that produces inflammation.  Grody stuff.  Sometimes I think I should get off the internet, I know Julie thinks I should.  I am constantly learning something new and saying, no, we can't have that either, "it's toxic"!  Then I switch us to something else.  I promise I am just trying to do what is best for us, but I know it drives her batty.  Ignorance is bliss is not a phrase that applies to me, that is for sure.

Goo Tube

Anyway...so I came across this post from Wellness Mama about DIY Remineralizing Toothpaste.  I was pretty excited so I pinned it and went on my merry way.  Well, now I'm almost out of toothpaste so it was time to whip up a batch.  I had everything I needed except the calcium/magnesium and a container so I picked up the calcium/magnesium at Whole Foods for about $7 (I'm sure it would be cheaper anywhere else) and at Target I picked up this little guy -------> It is called a Goo Tube.  They are kinda pricey (like $7) but I will use it for a long time and it is perfect.  It will not leak, it squeezes great and is made of food grade silicone.  I have a smaller set of 3 for other things and I love them so I knew this would be perfect.

Mixed it in a bowl, no fancy tools needed

I followed her recipe (without the DE) and used 2 drops of cinnamon essential oil essential oil and 3 drops of wild orange for flavor.  OMG it was so yummy!  I was so excited!  I wish I could say I am exaggerating but I brushed my teeth 3 times because I was enjoying it so much. My teeth felt wonderfully clean!  I know it is crazy but it was cheap, easy, effective and finally tasty toothpaste!  I will never again buy a $8 tube of toothpaste.

So is this something you would be willing to try?  Let me know your thoughts.


Oh, and if you are curious about carageenan, check out this article in Prevention.   This is just one article but there is lots more info on it if you dare to Google.  It is pretty nasty stuff and it is in all kinds of food.  I sure don't want it in me or my kiddos.  Go check it out.  Knowledge is power.

If you are not an oil user and you are interested in learning more let me know.  The two brands I know, love and trust are doTERRA and Spark Naturals.  Message me and I can help you.

Be well.
Jen

What You Put on Your Body...

Read this article then come back....http://www.wellandgoodnyc.com/2010/07/20/cetaphil-why-the-popular-cleanser-isn%E2%80%99t-doing-your-skin-any-favors/

OK, nice to have you back.

I normally would not post something negative about a particular product but I thought this was a good example of how marketing affects how we feel about product and the importance of label reading.  Did you know that public health laws allow:

• Almost any chemical as an ingredient in personal care products
• Misleading and incomplete labeling of ingredients
• Unsubstantiated claims about product benefits
• No required safety testing of products or ingredients

So really companies can say and put on their products whatever they want. What??? Combine that with the interesting little tidbit that chemicals from personal care products enter your blood stream within 30 seconds and that is pretty scary.  Scary for me and definitely scary for my kids.

If you go to EWG Skin Deep website and put in Cetaphil you will find that it is a 3.  (Their scale is from 1-10, 10 being bad)  So a 3 is not bad, it is certainly not the worst but you can get better.  If you scroll down you will see ratings on the different ingredients and what the side effects may be.  Two ingredients are as high as a 7.  Eek.  And this is a product that we have been led to believe is so wonderful for problem skin. Overall being a 3 it is probably not making your skin any worse but it is certainly not helping you as you may have thought.  With no natural ingredients (except water) how can your skin ever get better?   What about the other products you have that say "natural" or even the ones that don't.  What is really in them?  Do you know how they can affect you?

I learned about the Skin Deep website a few years ago when I was looking for safe sun screen for Maddox.  Somehow I heard about the how the spray kinds are so dangerous and I started looking into it and found EWG.  I found ingredients like this in the sunscreen I was spraying on my 2 year old.

OXYBENZONE - Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes, Use restrictions

FRAGRANCE - Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Miscellaneous

RETINYL PALMITATE (VITAMIN A PALMITATE) - Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Biochemical or cellular level changes, Use restrictions

Of course I threw away the spray stuff and went on a search for something safer.  I found Badger sunscreen and it scores a 1 which is a score I can happily live with.  I buy mine on Amazon but I have seen it in health food stores as well.  It works great and we have had no sunburns.  You do have to rub it in well or you will see a little white, but I'm willing to take the extra time to put it on knowing it is not harmful to him.  At first he didn't like it because he had to stay still but I explained that it was to protect him from the sun burning him (which hurts) and it was sunscreen or no pool, beach, play ground, etc.  Now he know it is what we do, no arguments, no biggie.

The purpose of this post was to give you a new resource to help you find safe products for you and your families.  What you put ON your body you are also putting IN your body since products on your skin are absorbed in less than 30 seconds.  Knowing that makes me even more aware and conscious of what I put on me and my kids.  Spend some time on the EWG website.  It is a great place to find information about food, personal care products, make up, cleaning products and sunscreen.

Go here   ------>     ewg.org 

Be healthy!

Jen

Breathe Chest Rub

I made some Breathe chest rub (think healthier version of Vapor Rub) today for 2 reasons. One, we are almost out because we use ours a lot and the other was so I could send some off to a certain friend in OK with 3 sweet boys who I know will also get a lot of use from it.  Here is how I did it, pay close attention, it is very technical.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup almond oil (I have also used olive and/or grapeseed oil before)

1/4 cup beeswax

1/4 cup coconut oil

2 T shea butter

1 tsp vitamin E

30 drops per 4 oz container doTERRA Breathe

10-15 drops per 4 oz container doTERRA eucalyptus

5-10 drops per 4 oz container doTERRA rosemary

This recipe will make 2- 4oz containers.

I had all of these ingredients on hand because I use them to make lotion as well  - I just use different oils.  I have made lavender for the baby and used Citrus Bliss and grapefruit for me and for gifts.  They are all yummy and everyone at Christmas seemed to really enjoy it.

The process is very easy and literally took me about 10 mins to do.  Now getting a shower or the kitchen clean, that took forever today!

Pour everything into a double boiler type contraption.  I use an old olive jar that I keep only for this purpose and it sits in a pot of boiling water.  Like so.  I use a wooden skewer to mix it up and when you are done you can toss it.  Wait for it all to melt then pour it into your containers where your drops of essential oils are waiting.  Now go grab a cup of joe and wait for it to cool.  It will look like this.  . I know, this is almost rocket science.

Then you can jazz up your container a little if you feel it is necessary.  I felt it was necessary and because I have a new love of funky duct tape, here they are with a quick wrapping.  Literally 10 minutes to make, and this will last us a while.  Plus it is perfectly safe for the whole family to use, even our tiniest member who is only 3 months old.

The recipe for lotion not my own, it was found here.  Thank you Nikki for sharing it with me. The containers I used are from Aroma Tools but you can use any glass container.

The easiest ways to use this rub is to rub on chests if your "patient" has any breathing issues due to asthma, sinuses, allergies, cold, flu, or bronchitis.  Sometimes I will dab a little under my nose or put a little behind my ears. Although this is not a good idea for kids that rub their faces because you don't want them to get it in their eyes.

The feet are always a great place to apply essential oils since the pores are so large. They get absorbed in the blood stream very quickly.  As you can see from the picture if you are having breathing issues then a good place to put some Breathe rub (or oil) would be the top of the feet near the toes or the bottoms of the feet on the points for bronchials, lungs or sinus.  When you put oils on the feet it is best to put on some cotton socks on after to keep all that healing power on your skin since some can evaporate in the air.

Now go get cooking!

Be healthy,

Jen