Inspire Vitality
I’ve just moved to Australia. Any boy do they have mosquitos. Lots of mosquitos. I’m actually convinced they’re mutant mosquitos because they leave welts, not just bites…welts!
On more than one occasion, the bites on my arms or legs are brown recluse bites (my other enemy who currently enjoys residing in our house) or mosquito bites because they are THAT big.
All the mosquito repellents that I have come across here in Australia have a lot of chemicals in them ,smell terrible and I’ve even read on one that it was not suitable for human skin!! I was intrigued to find a natural cure! Then just a few days ago I saw this idea for homemade mosquito repellent on wake up world knew I had to try it out.
1. Essential oils (citronella and lemongrass are musts, I also like lavender or you could use tea tree oil or geranium oil for tick protection),
2. 14 oz. bottle of witch hazel (available in grocery stores & pharmacies usually close to the rubbing alcohol)
3. A spray bottle (or two–one for home and one for the diaper bag/car), a jar for mixing, and a funnel.
We used these essential oils: citronella, lemongrass and lavender. You could also use peppermint or cedar wood essential oils as well.
I cleaned out an empty detangler spray bottle for our “on the go” spray.
1. Pour the witch hazel into the glass jar then add your essential oils. We put about 15 drops of both citronella and lemongrass, and about 10-12 drops of lavender.
2. Put the lid on the jar and shake vigorously until it is mixed. It should be pretty cloudy.
3. Pour into your spray bottles using a funnel.
4. Make a label (or write in Sharpie). I used an old Scrapbook sticker to make it look “cuter”. 
You can spray this on the exposed parts of your body: arms, legs, neck, ankles, feet, etc and then rub it in.
Make sure you don’t spray it on your face or get it in your eyes. If you put this on your kids, be sure to try just a little bit first on one area of their skin to make sure they’re not allergic to any of the essential oils. Or you can use it to spray the area around where your sitting outside.
What kind of mosquito repellent does your family use???
Source - icanteachmychild.com
Taking vitamin D while still young may be good for the body in the long run. Results from a study conducted by the University of Zurich have confirmed that sufficient amounts of vitamin D taken consistently are necessary to maintain bone health.
Many people believe that maintaining healthy eating habits is enough, but only few foods naturally contain significant levels of vitamin D. According to Dr. Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari, a faculty of UZH, in order to get adequate levels of vitamin D through diet alone, two servings of fatty fish like salmon or mackerel would have to be consumed every day. It is thus necessary to increase vitamin D levels in the body through sufficient sun exposure and supplementation in order to use the sunshine vitamin’s full potential for maintaining proper body functioning.
This misconception about maintaining D levels through diet does have a degree of ground since vitamin D is not a stand alone vitamin. To perform many functions, vitamin D works in cooperation with other vitamins like magnesium, which can be found in leafy green vegetables such as spinach. This unique characteristic of vitamin D has contributed to the management of many chronic illnesses.
Decades ago, health care professionals thought vitamin D was only good for keeping healthy bones and teeth. Recent advances in science, however, have put this vitamin in the spotlight by revealing its multifaceted role in the proper functioning of the human body and its ability to lower the risk of illnesses not formerly associated with it.
Despite the recent revelations about the potential of vitamin D, it appears that not everyone appreciates this discovery. The current lifestyle of working indoors has contributed to the growing number of vitamin D deficiency cases worldwide. This is compounded by the fact that not everyone is aware that he or she may be vitamin D deficient.
The best way to discover vitamin D deficiency is to take a blood test that will measure the level of the vitamin in your blood. You can either ask your doctor to administer the test or buy a home test kit do the test yourself. However, you are certainly vitamin D deficient if you have any of the following ailments, and you need to consult with your doctor regarding your preventive, as well as curative, options as soon as possible.
1.) The flu - In a study published in the Cambridge Journals, it was discovered that vitamin D deficiency predisposes children to respiratory diseases. An intervention study conducted showed that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections in children.
2.) Muscle weakness - According to Michael F. Holick, a leading vitamin D expert, muscle weakness is usually caused by vitamin D deficiency because for skeletal muscles to function properly, their vitamin D receptors must be sustained by vitamin D.
3.) Psoriasis - In a study published by the UK PubMed central, it was discovered that synthetic vitamin D analogues were found useful in the treatment of psoriasis.
4.) Chronic kidney disease - According to Holick, patients with advanced chronic kidney diseases (especially those requiring dialysis) are unable to make the active form of vitamin D. These individuals need to take 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or one of its calcemic analogues to support calcium metabolism, decrease the risk of renal bone disease and regulate parathyroid hormone levels.
5.) Diabetes - A study conducted in Finland was featured in Lancet.com in which 10,366 children were given 2000 international units (IU)/day of vitamin D3 per day during their first day of life. The children were monitored for 31 years and in all of them, the risk of type 1 diabetes was reduced by 80 percent.
6.) Asthma - Vitamin D may reduce the severity of asthma attacks. Research conducted in Japan revealed that asthma attacks in school children were significantly lowered in those subjects taking a daily vitamin D supplement of 1200 IU a day.
7.) Periodontal disease - Those suffering from this chronic gum disease that causes swelling and bleeding gums should consider raising their vitamin D levels to produce defensins and cathelicidin, compounds that contain microbial properties and lower the number of bacteria in the mouth.
8.) Cardiovascular disease - Congestive heart failure is associated with vitamin D deficiency. Research conducted at Harvard University among nurses found that women with low vitamin D levels (17 ng/m [42 nmol/L]) had a 67 percent increased risk of developing hypertension.
9.) Schizophrenia and Depression - These disorders have been linked to vitamin D deficiency. In a study, it was discovered that maintaining sufficient vitamin D among pregnant women and during childhood was necessary to satisfy the vitamin D receptor in the brain integral for brain development and mental function maintenance in later life.
10.) Cancer - Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC discovered a connection between high vitamin D intake and reduced risk of breast cancer. These findings, presented at the American Association for Cancer Research, revealed that increased doses of the sunshine vitamin were linked to a 75 percent reduction in overall cancer growth and 50 percent reduction in tumor cases among those already having the disease. Of interest was the capacity of vitamin supplementation to help control the development and growth of breast cancer specially estrogen-sensitive breast cancer.
These various health conditions associated with vitamin D deficiency need not be something to fear. A proactive approach to prevention can assist in the avoidance of the many chronic diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency. For one, thousands of dollars can be saved, not to mention the peace of mind, simply at the cost of taking a walk under the sun. Save the umbrellas for the rainy days.
Sources for this article:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510299,00.html
http://journals.cambridge.org
http://www.vitamindcouncil.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/032222_breast_cancer_vitamin_D.html
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035089_vitamin_D_deficiency_signs_symptoms.html#ixzz2GoeCjhpJ
As I approach my thirties I have to admit I’m starting to panic a bit. Up until now I believed I was pretty invincible. I ate what I wanted used product after product without checking what ingredients I was putting on my face, ate so much sugar and processed food refusing to educate myself on the dangers they were causing my body. If it tasted good I wanted to eat it, it it made me look good I would wear it.
I’m now twenty eight and even though I have done countless amounts of damage to my body from alcohol (sugary drink after sugary drink), cigarettes ( which I smoked occasionally up until I was twenty six) , Sun damage ( I wanted that tan) I have now realized that I’m not invincible and if I continued on the path I was on, the results would cause some serious long term damage.
I have begun practicing a number of healthy changes in my life and I 100% have begun to see the difference.
Now this has taken a complete overhaul on my diet and i have never felt better!
GMO stands for “Genetically Modified Organism.” Most genetically modified organisms are plants, although cows, mosquitoes and salmon have also recently had their genes tweaked in questionable directions.
Several multinational corporations produce GMOs; a few of the largest are Monsanto, Dow Agroscience, and Syngenta. These companies, among others, are collectively referred to as biotechnology companies, or simply “Biotech.”
Genetically engineered (GE) seeds have genes microscopically spliced into their DNA so that the plant can express traits not naturally found in the plant. An example of one GE trait is resistance to the toxic herbicide Roundup. Plants that resist Roundup are called “Roundup Ready,” as in Roundup Ready corn and Roundup Ready soy, sugar beets, and the more recently deregulated (approved for planting) alfalfa. Roundup Ready crops are resistant to Roundup because the gene inserted into them confers resistance to the herbicide. This means that farmers can spray the crop with Roundup and kill the weeds while not killing the GE plants.
In short, it makes weeding easy. Or so it once seemed. Several weed varieties, such as Pigweed, have developed resistance to Roundup and are quickly evolving “superweeds,” spreading across the nation’s heartland. The superweeds grow bigger, stronger and more prolifically than their original form. Because of their mass and strength, superweeds break farm equipment and ruins entire crops.
The Roundup resistant gene spliced into Roundup Ready seeds is from a bacteria. The story goes something like the Roundup Ready concept was hatched when employees noticed that bacteria in a dumpster near Monsanto headquarters (where the idea should have stayed) were not dying while exposed to Roundup. This discovery led to the isolation of that gene and its insertion into plants to confer resistance against the active ingredient in Roundup, called glyphosate. Glyphosate is toxic and has been linked to numerous health problems in humans and in the environment.
In addition to Roundup Ready GE crops, biotech companies such as Monsanto have also bioengineered crops that contain a slight variation of a naturally occurring pesticide, called BT toxin. BT stands for bacillus thuringiensus. This bacteria naturally occurs in soils and secretes a toxic substance that protects it against other soil organisms. Monsanto has taken this substance secreted by b. thuringiensus and modified it to increase its potency thousands of times. When the gene that codes for Bt-toxin is spliced into GE seeds the plant systemically (throughout the whole plant)produces Bt toxin in a modified and increased concentration than what is naturally found in soil from bacillus thuringiensus.
Bt-toxin in this synthetic and concentrated form has no research or studies to prove its safety for human consumption. It’s one thing for bacterial poison to exist in the dilution of soil and quite another for a variation of this poison to be artificially and systemically produced in a plant in extremely high concentrations and then directly consumed by humans.
Many experts and lay people are particularly concerned about the health and environmental impacts of cross-species genetic engineering. In the case of the gene for Roundup Ready resistance and Bt-toxin, genetic material from bacteria is being inserted into plants, a process that would likely never occur in nature. Biotech companies argue that there is no need to worry because it is only one gene being spliced into the seed. But other scientists argue that even one gene spliced into a seed creates relatively massive collateral damage in how other genes in that plant will function. Genes code for proteins, which perform all sorts of functions in our bodies. With aberrant genetic coding, anomalous proteins are produced, which have unknown and potentially devastating effects on our health and in the environment, most notably allergic reactions in humans. GMO-induced allergies are a primary concern among health experts and scientists critical of GMOs.
In addition to superweeds, superbugs have also developed. Where superweeds developed resistance to Roundup, superbugs have developed resistance to Bt-toxin. One such superbug is the corn rootworm, a pest to corn plants for which Bt-toxin technology was originally developed to mitigate. Another is the pink bullworm, affecting GE crops in India. But just like with superweeds that developed resistance to Roundup through the evolutionary process of natural selection, superbugs have developed resistance to genetically engineered Bt-toxin. Monsanto once denied the possibility for development of superweeds and superbugs, but here we are in reality with both. Big surprise. Both are now destroying GMO crops, and Monsanto and Syngenta have received bad press because of it.
In order to save their multi-billion dollar business of destroying the environment, biotech companies are now scrambling to remedy the havoc caused by their inadevertant (yet predictable) selective breeding of superbugs and superweeds. By natural, organic means, I am sure you are thinking, right? Wrong! They are now offering and creating new technology for what are called “stacked trait” seeds. This means that the GE seeds now contain multiple genes spliced into them for resistance to various substances and/or to enhance production of supposed beneficial traits. In order to make plants that survive superweeds and superbugs, biotech now has to engineer plants (seeds) to survive both their original target pests (weeds, rootworms, bullworms) and their super-varieties: superweeds, super-rootworms, and super bullworms.
Incidentally, where does the advent of stacked traits (multiple gene splicing) place biotech’s argument that we should not worry with only one gene spliced trait inserted into plants?—not that this argument was valid to begin with.
With the development of Roundup Ready resistant weeds and Bt-toxin-resistant worms, we arrive to the current situation where DowAgroscience and Monsanto are awaiting approval of their new stacked corn variety that is both Roundup resistant and 2,4-D resistant. 2,4-D is the highly controversial and potent herbicide comprising about half the volume of the cancer-causing defoliant used in Vietnam, Agent Orange. If the corn variety is approved, this means that each year GMO farmers will now spray hundreds of millions of pounds of Roundup and 2,4-D on their new generation GMO crops.
“Many studies show that 2,4-D exposure is associated with various forms of cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, nerve damage, hormone disruption and birth defects,” Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, told Reuters reporters. “USDA must take these significant risks seriously and reject approval of this crop.”
Critics of this stacked trait GMO corn variety are rightfully outraged, claiming that we are dangerously advancing our position onto the toxic pesticide-dependent treadmill. What happens when the inevitable future generations of superweeds and superbugs develop resistance to 2,4-D? Biotech will have to stack their GE seeds even more to add another herbicide and/or pesticide to fend off the newly adapted super-pests they created with their last GE incarnation.
According to most sources (non-Biotech), GMO foods offer no better nutrition or shelf life than conventional foods. In fact, some studies show GMO foods are nutritionally inferior to organically grown counterparts, as are conventional non-GMO foods that use pesticides but are not GMO. In the words of Dr. Andrew Kimbrell, Head of the Center of Food Safety in Washington, GMO foods “offer no benefits, no more nutrition, no more flavor, no nothing; they only offer risks.” These risks include health risks to GMO food consumers (especially children), to our soils, to our water, to farm workers, to wildlife, to the whole planet. The only reason, then, for genetically engineering Roundup Ready crops is to better control the weeds that grow in the crop furrows.
What a price to pay for a lousy convenience that does not even deliver on its promise anyway! It’s all a stinky big business lie.
What can we do? Lots! Grow and buy organic food only. Support your local farmers. Keep it simple, keep it whole. Check labels in stores and learn the basic steps to identify GMO ingredients on your food. Join the GMO Eradication Movement and stay tuned to WuW for more articles on the hazards of GMO.
Monsanto and other biotech companies would love nothing more than to see the end of organic foods. Organic food is the only real competition standing in their way of taking over the world’s food supply. If all corn seed, for example, became genetically contaminated (by GMO corn) there would be no organic corn and no real competition for Monsanto.
If GMO crops continue to proliferate, and organic seed continues to become contaminated, this could spell the end of major organic staple crops such as corn, soy, and even rice, wheat and alfalfa (for livestock) one day. We are all in this together and have to pull together now, during this small window of time where there is still hope to save organic food. Please join the effort for yourself, your children, and out planet.
One of the most widely produced and used franken-engineered crops, GMO corn is in everything from processed foods to ethanol (watch Food Inc. to see just how many products corn is used in, as well as the tactics of Monsanto and their ilk). The geniuses at Monsanto altered the DNA of corn to be resistant to pests (hey, why spray the pesticide ON the corn when you can grow it IN the corn!) as well as resistant to their herbicide, Round-UP. Who needs weeding when you can dust your entire field, corn and weeds alike, with a deadly herbicide?
One ‘small’ detail, the fact that humans actually EAT the pesticide and herbicide laced corn that’s in almost every mainline food item they buy, is doubtless not lost on the psychopaths at the franken-engineering firms. What’s collateral damage when you can make a few extra bucks? Folks, you don’t need a pressure-canner to CAN this toxin-filled corn!
However, avoiding GMO corn isn’t easy because there are no labeling laws (within the USA) and, as stated before, corn is in SO many things. We found a frozen brand at Sam’s that is voluntarily advertised on the package as non-GMO. The other day we passed a farmer’s roadside stand with a sign that said ‘organic corn.’ Buy in bulk, eat a ton, freeze or can the rest. Making connections with local farmers is huge. Talk to them about GMO. Many of the smaller farmers you meet will be very aware. Don’t buy from the ones who aren’t. As always, avoiding non-organic processed foods is important. Read the labels – if it has corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, corn oil, corn starch, malt, maltodextrin, maltose, maltol, ethyl maltol, mannitol, malt syrup, dextrose, dextrin, polydextrose, etc., don’t buy it or at least minimize consumption of these products.
Processed, non-fermented soy is not only GMO, but has lots of other health ramifications as well. Like corn, soy is in almost every non-organic processed food. Textured soy protein (TSP), hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), textured vegetable protein (TVP), textured soy flour (TSF), lecithin, meat analogs, structured protein fiber (SPF), and soy protein concentrate are few of the GMO soy based ingredients you will find lurking in processed food. Avoiding soy isn’t quite as difficult as corn since corn is a widely used ingredient AND a vegetable most people love to eat (although some people eat soy burgers, soy milk, etc. – because of the health issues above this is not recommended). It really just comes down to avoiding non-organic processed foods.
On their website, Monsanto insists, “’There is no need for, or value in testing the safety of GM foods in humans.” Wonder why?
These days more than half of non-organic white sugar isn’t from beautiful green sugar cane fields somewhere in the Caribbean, but from franken-engineered sugar beets developed in a lab somewhere by mad scientists who get high off thinking of ways to poison the food supply so farmers won’t have to weed.
The best all-around advice (although we don’t follow nearly enough!) is to avoid sugar altogether. No need to make a case here – we all know it’s not good for us. However, the Morefields like a sugar fix as much as anybody, so when we do, we like to buy organic cane sugar produced from those green sugar cane fields and sold at EarthFare. It’s a little more work to scoop it from the bin into bags, label it, and haul it home, but the peace of mind is well worth it. And, of course, sugar is in most non-organic processed foods and drinks, so avoiding those is a must as well.
Sorry folks, no catchy phrase here, unless you can ‘crush’ canola oil. Canola oil is not only used in most households to cook, but is also found in many processed foods you find at the grocery store. Completely replacing such a major GMO product with non-GMO has lots of positive ramifications, especially for a family that cooks from scratch as much as ours. Virtually every dish has some sort of oil in it, so getting the GMO out of the oils we use, if we are careful in other areas, will get it out of lots of the dishes we cook and consume.
For everyday baking, we buy bulk peanut oil at Sam’s, refilling a smaller, handier container in our kitchen from it. It’s a little more work, but quite cost-effective. Organic virgin and extra virgin olive oils can be found at health food stores like EarthFare, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s, although occasionally you can find them at closeout stores like Big Lots for a fraction of their original price, and even at discount retailers like Ross and TJ Max. Note: Be careful what oil you use because not all olive oil is olive oil.
Coconut oil is harder to find, but can be found online or at health food stores. Although Trader Joe’s is probably the least expensive, coconut oil is still more expensive than the other oils. There’s a reason for that – it’s also the best for you! We can’t afford to use coconut oil for everything we cook, but if we could we probably would.
Does anyone see a pattern here? Almost all GMO ingredients can be ‘conveniently’ found all in one place, the middle aisles of mainstream grocery stores! These are the convenience items, for families that just don’t have the time to cook from scratch, ‘conveniently’ laced with potentially deadly GMO ingredients for young and old alike. When shopping at mainline grocery stores, stay on the edges and avoid the center aisles. If you must buy processed foods, it’s worth a few more dollars to buy organic. (Just be sure it’s labeled ‘USDA Organic,’ or you might not be getting what you paid for.) The Non-GMO shopping guide is a great place to start!
Turmeric is an herb native to Southeast Asia that is a true super-food shown to have remarkable healing and anti-inflammatory properties that are just now being discovered.
Cellular inflammation is a common day epidemic that is it is the fundamental cause of degenerative disease in our society. Turmeric has been shown to reduce inflammation & oxidative stress as well as any herbal medicinal ever studied.
Turmeric root is extraordinarily rich in curcuminoid polyphenol anti-oxidants that give it a classic yellow-orange color. The principal crucuminoid is curcumin which is responsible for much of the health benefits attributed to turmeric. The other 2 curcuminoids are desmethoxycurcumin and bis-desmethoxycurcumin.
Blood sugar imbalances and insulin resistant cell membranes are critical factors that promote inflammatory conditions in the body. Curcumin has been shown to stabilize blood sugar and reverse cellular insulin resistance by increasing the number of insulin receptors and improving the receptor binding capacity to insulin.
Curcumin has been shown to activate PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activator receptor), which is a group of nuclear receptor proteins that regulate gene expression and modulate sugar uptake and utilization from the blood. Curcumin also acts on the liver to decrease the activity of enzymes that release sugar into the blood while increasing activity of enzymes that store sugar. Through these mechanisms, curcumin has been shown to significantly reduce blood glucose and triglyceride levels in diabetic rats.
When blood sugar imbalances occur without sufficient regulation, glucose cross-links are formed with functional proteins. These new molecules are called Advanced Glycolytic Enzymes (AGE`S) that damage cell membranes, vital enzyme systems, and perpetuate inflammatory conditions in the body. Curcumin has been shown to inhibit the formation of these dangerous substances and turn off the inflammatory fires.
Turmeric is the 4th highest anti-oxidant rich herb with an extraordinarily impressive ORAC score of 159,277. These anti-oxidants such as curcumin are very powerful modulators of oxidative stress.
Turmeric also boosts levels of natural cellular anti-oxidants such as glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. These molecules are critical for the body to limit oxidative stress all day long. The greater the surplus of cellular anti-oxidants the less stress and damage occurs to vital organ systems.
Turmeric`s powerful curcuminoids have been shown to reduce the inflammatory mediating prostaglandins, cytokines and other molecules such as interleukin-6 & tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). This tips the scales; it pulls the body out of an inflammatory cascade and promotes anti-inflammatory behavior at the cellular level.
Turmeric`s ability to inhibit oxidative stress, AGE formation, & inflammatory prostaglandins across multiple organ systems and multiple biochemical pathways makes it an incredibly powerful anti-aging and performance enhancing aid. Through the above mentioned mechanisms turmeric has been shown to reverse diabetes and improve blood vessel elasticity.
This stabilizes blood pressure and improves cardiovascular function. Additionally, by inhibiting pro-inflammatory prostaglandins it is a powerful pain inhibitor and cancer cell inhibitor. Turmeric improves blood flow and reduces brain inflammation, thus making you cognitively sharper while protecting against Dementia, Alzheimer`s, Parkinson`s and every other neurodegenerative disorder. It has been shown to speed up wound healing from cuts & burns while reducing inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema.
Best way of implementing more Turmeric into your lifestyle:
You can use Tumeric in many ways add it to curries , Dahl or take it in supplement form which i find is sometimes the easiest way.
I only came across Kale this year for the first time and amazed at how much nutrients are in one plant;
Vitamins B2,B3,B6,C,E,K,Beta Carotene,Folate,Calcium,Iron,Magnesium,Zinc,Flavonoids,Gluosinolates and Fibre.
Could kale, a less domesticated, disheveled form of cabbage, really be one of the most potent healing foods in existence today?
Few foods commonly available at the produce stand are as beneficial to your health as kale. And yet, sadly, it is more commonly found dressing up something not as healthy in a display case as a decoration than on someone’s plate where it belongs.
Kale is actually a form of cabbage that evaded domestication, sharing many of the same traits as wilder plant relatives unafraid of holding on to their bitter principle, and relatively unruly appearance.
Kale is perfectly content letting its luscious green leafy hair down, being the ‘hippie’ member of a family that includes the more tightly wound broccoli, cauliflower and the Brussel sprout, whose greater respectability as far as most restaurant menus go means kale is more likely to be found forgotten, shriveling up somewhere on the bottom shelf of someone’s refrigerator, no doubt possessed by someone with every intention (but not the time and appetite enough) to eat it.
But please do not underestimate this formidable plant, which grows as high as six to seven feet in the right conditions, casting a shadow as long as the impressive list of beneficial nutritional components it contains. Its nutritional density, in fact, is virtually unparalleled among green leafy vegetables. Consider too that during World War II, with rationing in full effect, the U.K. encouraged the backyard cultivation of this hearty, easy to grow plant for the Dig for Victory campaign that likely saved many from sickness and starvation. Over a half century later, kale’s status as a former cultural nutritional hero has faded into near oblivion … until now, we hope!
Kale’s Immunity-boasting Properties
Kale contains high levels of glucosinolates, natural plan chemicals which block cancer causing substances,stimulates detoxifying and repair enzymes in the body and suppress cancer cell division. The nutrients in Kale are particularly beneficial to the skin and encourage wound healing maintenance of healthy cell membranes meaning high in anti -aging antioxidants.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is an extraordinary natural remedy. This economical and common powder has a wide range of healing possibilities: acne, cancer, colds, influenza, acid reflux — the list goes on and on. And don’t forget about all the great uses around the house as well. Priced around $3 for a large box, baking soda just might be that readily available and cost effective miracle everyone has been looking for.
Not only helpful with disease, baking soda has a broad spectrum of use. It is also good for:
- Clearing acne
THe bicarbonate of sodais mixed with a little cool water into a paste. The paste should be applied and left to dry for 5/10 minutes. The paste will relieve the irritation of the spot. This treatment has been proven to be hugely effective and avoiding putting any chemicals on to your skin.
- Cleansing hair and removing buildup
Sometimes if you use the same shampoo all the time you can get a build up on your hair,making it feel lank,greasy,drab and lifeless.By adding 2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda to your favorite organic shampoo and mixing them together you can help condition your hair and remove the build up.
- Insect bites
Getting rid of that awful itchy feeling after an insect bite especially mosquitoes… (which i have had a lot of bites from) Mixing the bicarbonate soda into a paste and leaving it over the bite offers an instant relief from the itching.
- Boosting laundry detergent
Making your whites whiter and also using it as a fabric softener
Drain Cleaner
I cup baking soda
Add 1 cup hot vinegar
Wait a few minutes, then flush the drain with 1 quart of very hot water.
For garbage disposals, use 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar.
Automatic Dishwasher Powder
Use 2 Tablespoons baking soda and 2 Tablespoons borax per load.
Drip Coffee Maker Cleaner
Mix 1 cup warm water and 1/4 cup baking soda. Let it drip through the coffee maker. Then drip a pot of plain water to rinse. It will keep your coffee maker clean and fresh.
Tea Kettle Cleaner
To remove rust stains and mineral deposits, fill the tea kettle with water and add 2 Tablespoons of baking soda and the juice of half a lemon. Boil gently for 15 minutes. Rinse and repeat if needed.
Unclog Gas Stoves
To unclog burners on a gas stove, simply add 1/4 box of baking soda to 2 quarts of water and boil for a few minutes.
Easy Toilet Cleaner
Sprinkle 1/2 box of baking soda into the toilet tank once a month. Let it stand overnight before flushing. The tank and the bowl will be both clean and deodorized.
Economical Air Freshener
Simply mix equal parts of baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts. Put it in a soap dish or in small sachet bags wherever you would like to freshen the air.
Economical Carpet Deodorizer
Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of cornstarch, and 15 drops of essential oil fragrance for scent. Sprinkle on the rugs before bedtime and let it sit overnight. If you like, you can work it into the carpet the next morning with a stiff bristle brush or broom. Then vacuum.
Clean Brushes and Combs
Fill sink with hot water and 1/4 cup of baking soda. Watch the dirt and oil dissolve away!
Underarm Deodorant
Sprinkle under your arms, even after shaving. It won’t irritate your skin. If you prefer a smoother textured deodorant, mix it with a little talcum powder.
Clean Glasses
Hold your eyeglasses over a sink and sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on them. With wet fingers, gently rub the lenses. Rinse clean and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Breath Freshener
Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into a cup of water and rinse. It will eliminate even morning mouth, garlic and onion odors! Make your own mouthwash by combining 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 cup of water. Add a few drops of flavoring if desired.
Tooth Whitener
Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Using a cotton swab, apply it to your teeth, brush clean with water and rinse. Coffee and tea stains will disappear! (NOTE: This is an occasional treatment only. Lemon juice contains a lot of acid and shouldn’t be overused, or used alone. Combined with baking soda, the acid is buffered and won’t destroy the tooth’s enamel).
Denture and Retainer Cleaner
Combine 1 tablespoon of baking soda. 1 tablespoon of powdered laundry detergent and 1 cup of water. Soak the dentures or plastic retainer for 30 minutes and rinse well. If you prefer, you can use 1 cup of water and 2 teaspoons of baking soda in a glass.
An Inexpensive Sports Drink
For each quart of boiled water add 1 level tablespoon of salt, 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda, 4 rounded teaspoons of sugar, and 1 package of sugar free Kool-Aid.
Stir until clear and refrigerate.
Clear Up a Stuffy Nose
Add a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer. It will unblock nasal passages and keep the vaporizer clean as well!
Baby Fever Reducer
Bathe the infant in a tub of lukewarm water with 1/2 cup of baking soda. Use less if you are using a plastic infant tub. This is also an effective remedy for diaper rash.
For Dogs and Cats
Sprinkle baking soda on your pet’s brush or comb to deodorize their skin and fur.
Adding 2 tablespoons of baking soda to your dog’s bath water and rinse water will make their coat clean and shiny.
Using baking soda on pet stains will eliminate the odor and prevent the pet from returning to the same spot in the future for another accident.
Sprinkling the litter box with baking soda keeps it fresh and deodorized.
Paint Brushes
To restore brushes stiffened and hardened by paint, simply boil them in a solution of 1/2 gallon of water mixed with 1/4 cup vinegar and 1 cup of baking soda.
Non-toxic pesticide
Put baking soda under sinks near pipe openings and along basement windows to repel ants, silver fish and roaches. Roaches will dehydrate and die after eating baking soda.
In the Garden
Occasionally, lightly sprinkle baking soda around flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from nibbling at your buds.
Sprinkle baking soda on slugs to get rid of them without having to resort to costly and toxic pesticides.
To sweeten your tomatoes by reducing their acidity, sprinkle baking soda lightly on the soil around your tomato plants. The soda from an old box used to absorb odors in the refrigerator is fine for this purpose.
There are so many uses for Bicarbonate soda,you should be able to save a lot of money from this product and stay away from harmful chemicals while your at it.
What could be wrong with lighting a scented candle? What could be more harmless than nice-smelling scented candles, right? No problem and no harm. Light one, let it…
DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between Margarine and Butter? Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money…
Aquaponics is a combination of Aquaculture & Hydroponics. This means that fish and plants are grown in an integrated system, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two. An Aquaponic system uses…
In our endeavor for better nutrition, we often miss out on the most basic of elements, without which our nutrition is incomplete. While we do make sure we…
If you have any further questions or would like to offer some advise, please do not hesitate to contact me.
