Declutter Your Home 

Clutter creates chaos in our minds. It contributes to stress and anxiety. How can you relax if you keep seeing into clutter every time you walk into a different room in your home. Decluttering your home creates a relaxing and calming environment. Studies have demonstrated that tidiness makes you feel more relaxed, happier, and in control of your life. Orderly homes are linked to healthier choices, promote productiveness, and enhance physical and mental well-being. Besides, tossing out any item that you don't use or doesn’t fit in your home makes you feel empowered. Make the process less stressful by starting with small spaces. You can begin by clearing your cabinets or drawers. Don’t do it with perfection in mind. Do it gradually and tuck away or donate items you don’t use. 

Provide Your Home with an Endless Supply of Purified Water 

Your city treats water before pumping it into our homes. However, you’d want to be sure that the water supplied into your home is clean and completely free of any harmful substance. Add water filters to your house to eliminate any contaminant present in the water pumped into your home. Water filters eliminate any harmful or unwanted substances like chlorine and lead, that find their way into the water in our homes. You can relax and enjoy pure and safe drinking, bathing, and cleaning water by installing water filters in your home. 

Use Natural Paints On Your Walls

The paint you choose for your walls will affect your physical and mental health. The wall paints we use contain lots of hazardous chemicals, although many companies have cleaned up their pain formulas, some still might have volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They can cause serious health issues and you may notice a headache or runny eyes when you use them. The VOCs may cause hormone, central nervous system, respiratory, or kidney issues. Minimize VOCs in your home by switching to natural paints. While at it, consider painting your walls with colors that creates a calming feel in your home. Paint your walls with lighter and cheerful colors to create an environment that radiates a happier mood.     

Light Up Your Home 

Consider upgrades that shower your home with sprinkles of natural light. Keep your windows clean to let as much natural light in as possible. A brightly lit home makes one feel energetic without tiring your eyes. On top of that, brightly lit spaces stimulate our brains by increasing serotonin levels in our brains. Our bodies respond positively to natural daylight. When you enter into a space and feel invigorated, there is a high chance your body reacted positively to good lighting. Remember to also balance out the lighting in your home. As much as our bodies benefit from natural light, we need darkness to relax and sleep. Create reflective surfaces to bounce as much natural light as possible. 

Mark Out a Workout Area in Your Home

Our fast-paced lives have contributed to sedentary lifestyles and physical inactivity. Creating and delineating a workout area can help you create an atmosphere and space that inspire physical activity. You don’t need lots of money or space to renovate, create, and style a home gym. Some of the exercises that keep your heart revved up don’t require too much space. Marking out a space and defining it as a workout area keeps you motivated. You can add plants and candle lights to set up the right mood when working out. Mirror your workout by adding a mirror or two in your workout space which can be so helpful for monitoring form when using weights or doing yoga poses.

Bottom Line

A tidy home and one focused on enhancing a healthy lifestyle keeps worries at bay. 

The post How to Create a Healthy Home to Reduce Your Anxiety appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

Chemicals and your skin

Skin is the body’s largest organ, and it also absorbs more than 60 percent of what we put on it or that makes contact with it. These two factors together suggest we need to pay a lot of attention to everything that touches us. 

The cleaning products you choose to use may be doing more than shining up your bathroom tile or getting the dirt out of your carpet. When you expose your skin to traditional cleaning products or your skin is especially sensitive, you can develop contact dermatitis, a condition characterized by red, itchy, swollen skin.

To help you prevent developing this annoying and possibly life-altering condition, it’s a good idea to know who the culprits are and what you can to do protect yourself. Let’s uncover the culprits first.

Read about the 7 best supplements for your skin

Chemicals that can harm your skin

Sometimes it’s obvious that a cleaning product is not safe to get on your skin. Words such as “Danger,” “Use in a well-ventilated place,” “use gloves,” and “poison” are an indication you should leave that product on the shelf. If you don’t see these warnings, you should check out the ingredient panel. Look for the following skin irritants. This is not a complete list but some of the more common ingredients you should be aware of. Those with an asterisk are hormone disruptors, which means they can have a negative impact on your thyroid, digestion, reproductive system, nervous system, and insulin function. 

• Alkylphenols*
• Ammonia
• Bisphenol A*
• Chloride and alkyl ammonium chloride
• Ammonium hydroxide
• Ammonium lauryl sulfate
• Cyclosiloxanes*
• Glycol ethers*
• Hydrochloric acid
• Hypochloric acid
• Parabens*
• Petroleum distillates
• Petroleum solvents
• Phthalates*
• Phenol
• Sodium bisulfate
• Sodium hypochlorite
• Sodium laureth sulfate
• Triclosan*

Read about toxic chemicals in traditional household cleaning products

How to protect your skin

The most important thing you can do is educate yourself. That means read labels! Then avoid using any cleaning products that contain the culprits. If you do decide to use a product with potentially harmful ingredients, be sure to follow the safety directions on the label.

• Choose natural alternatives. There’s no guarantee the use of natural cleaning products won’t cause a skin reaction if you are especially sensitive. However, all-natural products that you purchase at a store or make on your own (for example, you may use baking soda and water to clean your oven or vinegar to clean your windows) are generally gentler on the skin and better for the environment. [Editor's Note: We love the products from Nature Clean. If you are extremely sensitive choose their unscented options.]
• Don’t mix products. Combining any type of cleaning products, including those you make on your own, can be potentially dangerous. If you are making your own cleaning products, be sure to follow the “recipe.” 
• Store cleaning products safely. Leave the original labels on any cleaning products, keep the lids tight, and keep them out of reach of young kids. 
• Protect your skin. When handling cleaning products, be sure to wear waterproof gloves and long sleeves. If you are sensitive to latex, be sure to choose plastic or vinyl gloves. 
• Clean up. Wash your hands with mild soap and warm water after you have finished using a cleaning product. 

According to board-certified dermatologist Howard Sobel, if you’re looking for commercial products that are safe, “Hypoallergenic, fragrance- and oil-free formulas won’t irritate sensitive skin.” Nature Clean, for example, has natural, fragrance-free multi-surface spray cleaners, toilet cleaners, window cleaners, and laundry care products that are safe to use. In fact, all of their products list the ingredients using the proper International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients, even though it is not required for cleaning products.

While many cleaning products contain ingredients that can irritate your skin, they may also lead to more serious or chronic conditions that affect the lungs. If you experience an urge to cough, a headache, a tickling in your throat, or tearing or burning of your eyes, throat, or nose when using any cleaning products that contain chemicals, stop using the product immediately. 

Treating irritated skin

What’s the first thing you want to do when you get an itchy rash? Scratch it! However, it’s best to resist that temptation because it will provide only temporary relief followed by more itching. Here are a few ways to treat irritated skin.

• Use a cold compress on the irritated skin.
• Apply a natural moisturizing cream that contains aloe, vitamin E, or coconut oil.
• Use plain coconut oil, vitamin E oil, or aloe directly from the leaves.
• Take a warm to cool bath in which you place colloidal oats or baking soda. Soak for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. 

Bottom line

Household cleaning products can cause contact dermatitis and have a negative impact on quality of life. An alternative is to use all-natural products, such as those provided by Nature Clean, which contains plant-based fragrances, essential oils, and natural food flavors and is free of all dyes and colorants. 

Source

Pina T, Dana L. The best laundry detergents and soaps to use if you have sensitive skin. Allure 2021 Jan 2

The post Cleaning Products and Your Skin appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

If you and your family are sleeping on sheets that have been on your bed longer than that, then there are some gross and unhealthy things that may be happening in your bedrooms. So be prepared: What follows may not be for the faint of heart.

Read about 5 tips to make doing laundry greener

What’s happening to your sheets

The human (and pet) body sheds skin cells; in fact, 500 million a day for people. Since you spend about one-third of your life in bed, plenty of cells are accumulating in your sheets. 

Skin cells are not the only things that are gathering in your bed. Some of those “things” have legs. In addition, moisture from sweating can accumulate during the night, making your sheets a breeding ground. Therefore, according to hygiene physician Dr. Lisa Ackerley, failing to wash your sheets often could be putting you and your family at risk for significant health problems. Let’s explore what those problems might be.

Health hazards when you don’t wash your sheets

Here are a few of the health issues that can arise when you keep your sheets on the bed too long.

Mighty Mites. The dead skin cells that accumulate in your bed linens in between clean sheet replacements are dinner for dust mites that enjoy this delicacy. Mites and their droppings may trigger asthma and allergies and contribute to eczema. 

Pet issues. Cat and dog hair and dander are dinner for dust mites as well. In addition, if your canine friend sleeps in your bed and has mange, the mites can irritate your skin. Pet sleep buddies may also transmit ringworm. If you want to allow your pets to sleep with you, be sure to routinely check their health and change your sheets weekly.

Germ garden. Dead skin cells, sweat, saliva, yeast, fecal matter, and other bodily deposits in your bed are a fertile garden for germs to thrive. Some tests, for example, have found that unwashed pillowcases for one week had 17,000 more bacterial colonies than a toilet seat. 

One bacterium that can linger in your sheets is Staphylococcus aureus, which is found on both healthy skin and on cuts and other skin conditions. Yeast is another threat, as it can accumulate in folds of skin where there is moisture and result in skin infections.

Acne problems. If you suffer from acne, you should be changing your pillowcase every two to three days. That’s because bacteria, dead skin cells, and dirt in the pillowcase can contribute to outbreaks and clog your pores.

Lingering germs. Whenever you or family members are ill, bacteria and viruses can linger in your sheets for up to several hours, depending on the microorganism. Therefore, it’s a good idea to wash your linens more often to kill germs.

Read about why you need to ditch your dryer sheets

How to wash your sheets

According to a 2017 survey, only 44 percent of Americans wash their sheets once or twice a month. Eleven percent wash them once a season, and 5 percent do it only once or twice a year. However, the optimal sheet washing schedule is once every two weeks, but once a week if you sweat a lot or if you are allergic to dust mites. In the latter case, the water should be at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit so you will kill the mites.

If you or a family member is sick, then sheets and other bedding should be changed as soon as you or the family member feels better to reduce the risk of reinfection. Use hot water to kill the germs and a hot dry cycle. 

Use an all-natural laundry detergent to keep your sheets and your skin free of exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. It’s also suggested you be as environmentally responsible as possible. It’s a dirty world, and littering with plastic and cardboard laundry containers adds to the landfill. Even with recycling…and so many people don’t recycle responsibly…the amount of trash is overwhelming. 

You can help make a difference by reducing laundry packaging waste and using detergent strips. These strips are plastic-free, dissolve in both hot and cold water, and are free of harmful chemicals. The small amount of packaging they are in consists of 100 percent recycled materials.

Other tips

• Don’t make your bed right away in the morning. Allow any moisture that may have accumulated in your sheets to dry, this makes them less attractive to bacteria and mites.
• Use a mattress protector and pillow protectors, which are easy to wash.
• Shower or bathe before going to bed. This helps reduce dirt and other contaminants in your bed.
• Provide a separate blanket for your dog or cat to lie on in your bed and wash it once a week.

Bottom line

Do your part for yourself, your family, and the planet. Wash your sheets more often and help protect your family’s health. Consider using environmentally friendly detergent and help keep our planet healthy as well.

Sources

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Control indoor allergens to improve indoor air quality. 

Bradford A. Do you wash your sheets enough? Probably not. CNET 2018 Jan 17

Donovan J. Blog: How often do you wash your bedsheets? CBS Philly 2017 May 23

London B. This is what happens when you don’t wash your sheets every week. Daily Mail 2016 Dec 12

Martin E. Do you wash your sheets often enough? Good Housekeeping 2020 Mar 16

The post 5 Gross Things That Happen When You Don't Wash Your Sheets appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

It’s no secret that indoor pollution is worse than outdoor pollution. The US Environmental Protection Agency warns the public about the many different indoor air quality issues you should address, from off-gassing from furniture and carpeting to radon, asbestos, mold, and the use of household cleaners. This latter topic is what we are going to look at.

Exposure to conventional household cleaning products can cause a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from eye and throat irritation to dizziness, fatigue, headache, worsening of asthma and other respiratory conditions, and even cancer. That’s because they contain hazardous ingredients such as chlorine, phosphates, sulphates, phthalates, parabens, perfumes, dyes, or petroleum products. Cleaning products that contain these toxins are a danger to humans as well as your pets.

Read about spring cleaning your kitchen

Everyone has a different living environment and different cleaning needs, but there are some basic nontoxic materials and ingredients you can use to help welcome spring into your living space while protecting your health, the welfare of the planet, and your wallet as well. The best place to begin is with a list of basic supplies.

Natural spring cleaning basics

Supplies: bucket, soft cloths, spray bottle(s), scrub brush, mop

Baking soda: Also known as sodium bicarbonate, this staple deodorizes, fights grease, cleans well, brightens colors, and combines well with other ingredients.

Borax. Some studies suggest Borax can irritate the skin and eyes and may even disrupt hormone levels. So if you are looking for borax in the following formulas for spring cleaning, you won’t see it.

Castile soap: If grease and grime are a problem, this 100 percent plant oil soap can cut through it!

Essential oils. If you want your homemade cleaning products to have a wonderful scent, then you can add essential oils. Lavender, wild orange, peppermint, tea tree, and cinnamon are favorites, but you can choose your own. Most essential oils are safe, but some can trigger allergies so check them before using them in your products.

Lemon juice. Watch out mold and mildew because lemon juice is your enemy. Lemon juice also leaves behind a shine on hard surfaces and a pleasant aroma.

Olive oil. You don’t need to use your organic extra virgin olive oil for cleaning—reserve that for your cooking. However, lower grade olive oil is helpful as a polish and a cleaner.

Rubbing alcohol. This old favorite is a good alternative when vinegar may harm some surfaces.

Washing soda. This is used mainly for washing clothes. You can make your own washing soda by baking sodium bicarbonate, which is baking soda.

White vinegar: The acidity in vinegar is the secret behind its ability to cut through soap scum, grime, grease, and any other dirt that comes into contact with it. Vinegar also disinfects.

Read about 7 toxic cleaning ingredients to avoid

Let’s do spring cleaning!

Get out your natural ingredients along with your buckets, spray bottles, cloths, and brushes and let’s get to work!

Spring Cleaning in the Bathroom

Toilet: Let’s begin with our favorite: the toilet. For serious cleaning, create a cleaning fizz by pouring in ½ cup baking soda, 10 drops of tea tree oil, and finishing off with ¼ cup white vinegar. Use your scrub brush to clean. For routine cleaning, combine 8 ounces of white vinegar and 3 to 4 drops of your favorite essential oil in a spray bottle. Spray on the toilet seat and wipe clean, then use in the toilet, scrub, and flush.

Tubs and showers: Mildew, mold, and scum don’t have a chance in your tub or shower if you spray on pure white vinegar, let it stay on for about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on how much build-up you have, then rinse it off with water and a sponge.

General Spring Cleaning

Disinfectant: A powerful disinfectant consists of 2 cups water, 3 tablespoons shaved castile soap, and 25 drops of tea tree oil. Shake vigorously and use to disinfect just about anything in the house.

Glass cleaner: Clean your windows and mirrors with this super glass cleaner. Combine 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons each of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar, and 4 drops of lavender or citrus essential oil in a spray bottle. Spray on glass and wipe off with a soft cloth.

Tile floor cleaner: Combine 1 part white vinegar with two parts warm water in a bucket. Mop and go—no need to rinse! Note: Do not use this combination on wood floors.

Wood floor cleaner: Combine 1-gallon warm water, ½ cup white vinegar, and 2 drops lemon essential oil. Use a mop that is barely wet to wash wood floors.

Wood furniture polish: In a medium bowl, combine ½ cup olive oil and ¼ cup lemon juice. Use a soft cloth to polish wood furniture

Borox-free laundry detergent: All you need is just 1 to 2 tablespoons of this DIY natural laundry detergent. Combine 5 oz of castile soap (grated finely), ½ cup each baking soda and citric acid, 1 cup washing soda, and ¼ cup coarse sea salt. Mix well and store in an airtight container.

Spring Cleaning in the Kitchen

Countertops: Keeping your countertops clean is easy when you combine equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. However, if you have granite, marble, or stone countertops, substitute rubbing alcohol or vodka for the vinegar.

Cutting board: Perhaps the most critical item to keep clean in your kitchen is your cutting board. Use a cut lemon on plastic or wood boards. Rub the cut fruit on the board, let it sit for 10 minutes and then rinse with water.

Garbage disposal: It’s easy to forget to clean the garbage disposal, so kick start spring right with an easy natural approach. Pour white vinegar into an ice cube tray and fill the slots only half. Top off with water and freeze. When you have solid cubes, put them down the disposal and run it. The vinegar and ice sanitize as well as clean the blades.

Microwave: How does the microwave get so dirty? Regardless of the answer, we have the solution: lemon juice and vinegar. Pour about ¼ cup white vinegar and two tablespoons of lemon juice into a cup and microwave it for 2 minutes. Keep the door closed for several minutes after it is done, then wipe down the inside of the microwave with a cloth or sponge.

Oven: Often, oven grime is not far behind that in the microwave—or it’s worse. No worries, heat up your oven to 125 degrees F, fill your spray bottle with white vinegar, and spray the dirty areas. Then sprinkle salt or baking soda on the treated areas, turn off the oven, and use a wet cloth to wipe away the grime once the oven has cooled.

What are your natural spring cleaning secrets? Please share them with us!

[Editors Note: If making your own cleaning supplies is not your thing, our favorite brand of natural cleaning products is Nature Clean. They have been making natural chemical-free cleaners since 1963.]

DISCLAIMER: This article contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, Naturally Savvy will receive a small commission so we can keep pumping out amazing articles like this one. Thank you so much for your support!

Sources

Environmental Protection Agency. Indoor air quality

Newcomer L. 27 chemical-free recipes for DIY spring cleaning. Greatist 2015 Mar 19

Sisco S. 10 all-natural homemade cleaning solutions to scrub every inch of your home. Real Simple 2018 Jun 26

Walling E. 35 DIY natural cleaning recipes for everything. The Nourished Life 2019 Jan 16

The post Tips for Spring Cleaning Naturally appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

My adolescent daughter was devastated. Granted, at that age, it didn’t take much to pull her into an emotional frenzy. The culprit was a small, red bump that appeared on her forehead, smack in between her eyebrows.

“What is this?” she asks, pointing at her head.

“What?”

“This, this, this,” she says growing more agitated as she continues to point.

“Oh that,” I reply, nonchalantly as I continue chopping lettuce for dinner. “It’s just a pimple.”

By the look on her face, you would think that I had just told her she had horns growing out of her head. She immediately runs upstairs to her bedroom and slams the door. I imagine while she is up there she will engage in a staring match with her new discovery, believing that if she looks at her pimple long enough in the mirror, and with enough hatred, it will magically disappear. If that fails, she will undoubtedly sneak into my makeup bag in search of cover-up.

I know the last thing my preteen wants to hear is that acne is a normal part of puberty. Or, that in a few years, her face will clear up. She especially doesn’t want to hear me tell her that beauty is on the inside and it is more important that she be a kind, strong, caring individual. Oh no, she definitely doesn’t want to hear any of that, as true as it all may be. What she wants is a solution and a definite plan of action on how to prevent these blemishes from spreading.

I imagine this scene has occurred in every home with an adolescent. Acne often occurs at puberty, when the body increases its production of androgens (male sex hormones). These hormones stimulate the production of keratin (a type of protein) and sebum (an oily skin lubricant). If sebum is secreted faster than it can move through the pores, a blemish arises. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 85 percent of American teenagers will have acne. Unfortunately, some teens are genetically predisposed to having more acne than others.

A typical response to acne treatment is either to purchase one of the many topical creams available at the pharmacy or, in extreme acne cases, consult a dermatologist. While these measures may deem successful, mild acne can be reduced with a whole foods diet, natural health remedies, and a good skincare routine. Like anything else, it will take time.

There is no quick fix to reducing or even preventing acne but you can start here with these seven effective natural remedies:

1. Reduce Toxins

The skin is the largest organ of the body. One of its functions is to eliminate a portion of the body’s toxic waste products through sweating. If the body contains more toxins than the kidneys and liver can effectively discharge, the skin takes over. As toxins escape through the skin, the skin’s health integrity is disrupted which can cause skin disorders, including acne. Eliminating processed foods that contain artificial dyes, saturated fats, high levels of sodium and sugar is one way to effectively reduce ingesting toxins that will seep through the skin. In addition to following a whole foods diet, encourage your teen to increase his or her water consumption so that toxins are flushed out of the body. Foods that are high in fiber such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables will also help contribute to a healthy digestive system so that toxins can be eliminated through the colon.

2. Avoid Topical Oils/Chemicals

If your teen wears cosmetics, encourage her to use only natural, water-based products. Harsh chemicals, dyes, and oils will clog pores and cause acne to flourish.

Read more: 5 Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid

3. Keep Skin Clean

The skin breathes. Dust, grime, oils, and pollutants can clog the skin’s pores and exacerbate existing acne. Teens should wash their faces thoroughly, but gently, twice a day. Over-washing or excessive scrubbing can make acne worse by overstimulating the sebaceous glands, causing them to produce excessive amounts of sebum. Use an all-natural soap with sulfur that is designed for acne (available at health food stores) to help keep the skin clean.

4. Avoid Touching or Squeezing

In all likelihood, your teen will be tempted to squeeze, pop, and touch his or her pimples-anything to make them go away. Try to encourage your kids to keep their hands away from their faces as any dirt or oil on their hands will make acne worse. Breaking or popping a pimple will also allow harmful bacteria to enter the blemish thereby risking infection and possible scarring.

5. Nutritional Supplements

Certain vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, C, E, and zinc, along with the essential fatty acid, Omega 3, may help improve the appearance of the skin and minimize the eruption of acne. Consult with a natural health care practitioner to determine the correct dosage for your child when using a supplement as exceeding the recommended daily units daily of some vitamins can be harmful to the body.

Vitamin A, C, E, zinc, and Omega 3 can also be found naturally in the foods we eat: vitamin A  is found in animal livers, fish liver oils, and green and yellow fruits and vegetables; vitamin C is found in berries, citrus fruits, and green vegetables; vitamin E is found in avocados, cold-pressed vegetable oils, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains; zinc is found in egg yolks, fish, kelp, legumes, liver meats, mushrooms, soy, and whole grains; and omega 3-fatty acids with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects can be found in fresh coldwater fish such as salmon and mackerel, fish oil, and walnuts.

Read more: Choosing the Right Omega Fatty Acid Supplements

6. Natural Remedies

If your adolescent child is anything like mine, he or she will be willing to try anything to help minimize the appearance of acne. There are some natural remedies that use low-cost household items that may help.

• A mixture of organic apple cider vinegar and quality water applied to the affected area can help balance the skin’s pH level and prevent the breeding of acne-causing bacteria. Mix 1 part apple cider with 10 parts quality water and apply gently with a cotton ball to the skin.
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice applied directly to clean skin can also help balance the skin’s pH level. Allow the lemon juice to dry for a few minutes and then rinse with cool water. Re-apply a couple of times a day.
• Honey contains enzymes that rejuvenate the skin and act as an antimicrobial agent. A thin layer of raw honey applied to the face and left in place for a few minutes can serve as a natural mask to remove dirt and grime from the pores.
• Tea tree oil, available at natural health stores, is a natural antibiotic and antiseptic. A dab of full-strength tea tree oil applied sparingly on blemishes three times a day can help reduce the size and appearance of blemishes. Tea tree oil soap also works well. As with all-natural remedies, discontinue if a rash appears.

7. Be Patient

Living with a teen isn’t always easy. It is a time of change, confusion, and emotional ups and downs as they figure out their place in the world. What may seem as a natural rite of passage to us, can be viewed as a tragedy to them. What an adolescent needs most is an understanding parent who remembers what it’s like to at this age. If you are living with a teen fighting the acne battle, suggest some of these remedies and hopefully, your teen will be on her way to achieving healthy-looking skin.

Read 7 More Effective Natural Remedies for Teen Acne

DISCLAIMER: This article contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, Naturally Savvy will receive a small commission so we can keep pumping out amazing articles like this one. Thank you so much for your support!

The post 7 Effective Natural Remedies for Teen Acne appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

There are many crafty companies out there manufacturing truckloads of scented candles, air fresheners and scented oils to make the most of our holiday scent wish lists. Of course, just like any other industry, these companies are riding the holiday marketing bandwagon by promising us that if we plug something in, light something up, or use a can of their spray stuff, our homes will actually smell like Christmas.

Everyone loves that moment when you walk into a house that smells just like freshly-baked gingerbread cookies, especially when it masks the pet odors and the smell coming from the organic disposal container. But what price are we paying just to have a nose as happy as Rudolph’s?

Read more about air fresheners and your health

These commercial products are simply meant to mask odors, using a veritable cornucopia of chemicals and synthetic materials to do so. For those of us who take a more holistic approach to living, it quickly becomes clear that the proper course of action is to remove the root of our odor problems rather than applying a temporary Band-aid solution to cover up the bad smells.

I still get a kick out of seeing commercials where people walk into a home and ‘follow their nose’ to the tempting scent. Little do they know what they are actually smelling! A 2007 study by the National Resource Defense Council found that chemicals such as phthalates, limonene, volatile organic compounds (such as benzene and formaldehyde) are all key ingredients in many scented products. Unfortunately, regardless of how many pictures of flowers and meadows appear on the containers of these products, these chemicals are easily absorbed by our skin and air passageways^[1] and can cause some serious health problems.

Phthalates are known to affect male reproductive hormones, cause birth defects and are a contributor to asthma as well as other allergic symptoms^[2]. We are exposed to about 5 varieties of these per day^[3] through scented products. Limonene is a known allergen that is found in many scented products because it creates an artificial citrus scent. For those with allergies, stay away. This chemical will almost certainly trigger some sort of undesirable reaction, be it a rash, asthma attack or some other allergic reaction^[4]. VOCs including benzene and formaldehyde — we have all heard about these. Both are known to cause cancers. Exposure to benzene is known to cause leukemia and formaldehyde is known to cause a host of cancer and related troubles to our respiratory systems^[5].

Knowing these chemicals are lurking behind those pretty pictures, do you think you’ll be running out to buy a scented candle or a plug-in product any time soon? If you want your home to smell like the holidays but would rather avoid the chemical warfare that can come along with it, give these tricks a try for a truly clean and fresh-smelling home with holiday flare.

• Always start with the root of the problem. Begin by sprinkling a little baking soda onto carpets, rugs and upholstery, which if left for 20 minutes and then vacuumed up, will absorb most odors and leave you with a fresh smelling area.

• Try purchasing organic essential oils – ones that do not have any chemicals added during the distilling process – such as cinnamon, sweet orange, pine, peppermint, nutmeg, clove or spruce. By doing this, not only are you avoiding harmful chemicals, but essential oils have many health benefits: they’re great for boosting the immune system, helping with relaxation and as antiseptics, and can help maintain the overall health of your family during the holiday season, which usually seems to overlap with cold and flu season.

• For diffusing the scents throughout your home, try using a beeswax (or non paraffin-emitting candle) with an oil lamp to move the oils around your home. You can also try a cold diffuser, which is more expensive, but does a great job at spreading a scent effectively^[6].

• For a quick hit of holiday joy, try adding 10 drops of your favorite essential oil to a clean spray bottle with some distilled water and mist around your home as needed. You can also try treating cotton balls with 10 drops of your favorite essential oil and hiding them in closets, drawers, air ducts and hidden corners for a gentle, secret scent^[7].

• Finally, try boiling a pot hot water with mulling spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove) for a powerful and long lasting scent. Your guests will want to melt when they walk in!

Read more about the many uses for essential oils

There’s no need for chemicals to get your home smelling like the holidays, so give natural scents a try.

Sources:^[1-5] National Resources Defense Counsel, "Cleaning the Air: Hidden Hazards of Air Fresheners".^[6,7] Deirdre Imus, Green This! Volume 1: Greening Your Cleaning , 2007.

The post Natural Fragrances to Scent Your Home this Holiday Season appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

Just because we live in an increasingly polluted world does not mean we can’t take effective steps toward safeguarding ourselves and our families against the toxins found in common, everyday products. Every time we vote with our wallet and choose natural products, we are not only keeping one less contaminated item from entering the mainstream; we are also working toward improving our health and making our world a better place to live for many years to come. 

More specifically, choosing and using natural health/beauty and household cleaning products has some particular benefits that are important to understand and can better help you appreciate how essential they are to our future.

Read about avoid toxins: use natural cleaning products

Environmental benefits of natural products

If you read the labels on conventional health/beauty and household cleaning products, you may feel like you stepped into a chemical factory. For example, if you look at a conventional shampoo bottle, you will likely see sodium laureth sulfate. This ingredient is often contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a likely human carcinogen that is also flammable. Another ingredient seen in laundry detergents, body wash, and surface cleaners is alcohol ethoxylates, which are sometimes contaminated with 1,4 dioxane.

You will never see the words “1,4 dioxane” on any health or beauty care items you buy. However, this likely cancer-causing substance enters into our water supply. Most in-home water filters are not effective at removing 1,4 dioxane from the water.

Phosphates are another common toxin, often used in dishwashing detergents. When this water softener is released into the environment, it can cause algae blooms that kill aquatic life in lakes and ponds.

Using all-natural health/beauty and household cleaning products can help reduce the amount of these and scores of other contaminants from our environment.

Respiratory benefits of natural products

Many of the chemicals found in cleaning and beauty items are associated with respiratory disorders, including asthma and airborne allergies. When you use conventional household cleaning products in your home, you are introducing the chemicals into the air you and your family breath.

These chemicals include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), bleach, and ammonia. When released into the air, they can contribute to chronic respiratory problems such as asthma and also cause headaches and allergic reactions. VOCs and other irritating substances can be found in aerosol spray products, air fresheners, detergent, dishwashing liquid, rug and upholstery cleaners, floor polish, oven cleaners, and general cleaning products. 

Another cause of respiratory problems from conventional household products such as detergents and carpet cleaners is enzymes. When enzymes are added to these items, their purpose is usually to remove stains. When we inhale them, however, they can attack the lungs.

Natural products don’t contain VOCs, bleach, enzymes, or ammonia. They also don’t harbor synthetic fragrances. Many manufacturers of conventional products use synthetic perfumes and fragrances, which are composed of thousands of chemicals that have not been tested for their impact on human health. You won’t see these common irritants listed on product labels, but you may experience their effects such as respiratory irritation, asthma attacks, migraines, and allergic reactions.

The solution is to look for health/beauty and household cleaning products that use all-natural, plant-based fragrances and essential oils. You also may choose unscented natural options—the choice is up to you!

Read about why choose natural and organic products

Skin benefits of natural products

Do you experience rashes, pimples, flaking, itching, excess dryness, or other skin irritations that are unexplained? It could be caused by the ingredients in your health and beauty products. For example, does your laundry detergent promise to make your clothes whiter and brighter? The chemicals responsible for this feature are optical brighteners, which can stay on your clothing and cause allergic skin reactions.

Dozens of other chemicals found in health and beauty items such as shampoos, conditions, body wash, body lotions, soaps, deodorants, and sunscreens contain irritants that can cause your skin to break out and even worse. These include but are not limited to triclosan, oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinol, petroleum distillates, resorcinol, methylchloroisothiazolinone, and benzisothiazolinone, among others.

Animal benefits of natural products

Humans and the environment are not the only ones that suffer when we use conventional health/beauty and household products. These items are typically tested on animals. Although actual figures are difficult to come by, as many animals are not counted, an estimated 100 million animals in the US alone are abused and killed each year for drug, food, and cosmetic testing, biology lessons, and other experimentation. All-natural producers do not test on animals.

In addition, pets in your home can benefit from your use of clean products since they will not be exposed to chemicals on surfaces such as carpets, floors, beds, and your favorite chair! The use of all-natural products to control pests both inside and outside also is safer for our companion animals. 

Natural product ingredients

When you read the label of an all-natural health or beauty item or household cleaning product, you will likely see words like these:

• Polyglucosides: These are naturally derived ingredients that are the result of a fermentation process of corn starch and vegetable oil. You may see polyglucosides on items that produce foam, such as shampoos, soaps, and dishwashing and other detergents.
• Natural food flavors, essential oils, and plant-based fragrances: These are used rather than synthetic, chemical flavors and fragrances.
• Hydrogen peroxide: This natural product takes the place of chemical optical brighteners.
• Phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, and ethylhexylglycerin: These are natural preservatives that are necessary in minute amounts in some personal care and cleaning products to prevent the growth of bacteria. They take the place of synthetic preservatives and are usually listed near the end of an ingredients list.
• Guar gum: Guar gum, which is from the guar bean, and coco-caprylate, which is derived from coconut oil, are used in place of silicones. Silicones are toxic and added to conventional skincare products to make them go on smoother.

Bottom line

We hear a lot about the health benefits of using all-natural products. However, we often forget that the move to clean health/beauty and household items can also provide other benefits. Are you ready to make the switch to safe, effective, clean natural products? 

Read this next:

Tips for Spring Cleaning Naturally

Clean Skincare: What You Need To Know

[Editor's Note: For cleaning products, we recommend a brand like Nature Clean which hs been making nasty chemical-free cleaning products since 1963. You can purchase their products on Amazon or visit their website for more information. Also, we love BeautyCounter as our natural beauty brand of choice. You can check out their line of beauty products at BeautyCounter.com.]

DISCLAIMER: This article contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, Naturally Savvy will receive a small commission so we can keep pumping out amazing articles like this one. Thank you so much for your support!

Sources

Environmental Protection Agency. Technical fact sheet—1,4 dioxane. November 2017

PETA. Experiments on animals: overview.

The post 4 Top Benefits of Choosing Natural Products appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

To illustrate just how much junk our kids consume on Halloween, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta estimates that the average child accumulates roughly 4,800 calories, one-and-a-half cups of fat, and three cups of sugar-in just one jaunt to 15 houses. On the high end, our kids are getting up to a ghoulish 7,000 calories in one trick-or-treat outing, according to Donna K. Arnett, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama-Birmingham’s School of Public Health.

All things considered, it’s not fun to be ghoul about Halloween so here are some fun tips for moms to make it a healthier Halloween:

Healthier Halloween Tip #1:

Feed the kids before they go trick-or-treating. By filling them up with something healthier prior to sending them door-to-door on Halloween, you will discourage unnecessary snacking on candy.

Healthier Halloween Tip #2:

Throw out the bright colors. Bright-colored candy equals artificial food dyes, which are made from petroleum and have been linked to attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among other behavioral issues. In the UK, food products and candy that contain artificial food dyes are required to have a warning label.

Healthier Halloween Tip #3:

Moderation is key. No mom wants to take the fun out of Halloween. Let them have a few pieces of candy the night of Halloween and limit to one piece after a healthier dinner for the next week. Make sure you hide the candy in a place where they can’t easily find it.

Healthier Halloween Tip #4:

Give them candy without all the toxic ingredients. Pass out healthier candy that tastes just as good but without all the harmful ingredients. Here are some candy alternatives that will make you a poster mom for your neighborhood’s health:

• Surf Sweets offers a wide variety of gluten-free, organic gummies, sour bears and jelly beans plus a Halloween Treat in spooky shapes. Not only are their candies delicious, but they also donate a minimum of 1% of sales to good causes.

• YumEarth treats parents and kids to individually wrapped organic lollipops, sour drops, and gummy bears made with real fruit extracts and sustainable ingredients.

• Glee Gum makes gum pops and Mini Glee Variety Packs of their natural chewing gum. It is free of artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and sweeteners, and their gum is Non-GMO Project Verified.

• Check out MadeGood Snacks. They have a box of mini granola bars special for Halloween. Plus, your kids will never know there is a hidden serving of veggies.

Just remember that, for kids, Halloween is still one of the most exciting days of the year! It’s meant to be a retreat from the norm, and for parents, it can be healthy to look at it as such. As long as you set some ground rules that your family can agree on, your children can still get their treat and eat it too.

Image via Mike McCune

More Halloween ideas and recipes:

Pumpkins: Trick or Treat? 7 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Pumpkins But Should

Pumpkin Cinnamon Walnut Pancakes Recipe

9 Healthy Reasons You Should Love Pumpkin Seeds

The post 4 Tips for a Healthier Halloween appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

It happens to all of us, even when we think we’ve cleaned enough. There’s an odor coming out of the garbage disposal. Some forgotten damp laundry has developed its own unpleasant odor over the past few days. Your kids’ sports shoes smell like a dirty locker room, and the gym bag they were in…well, we won’t even try to describe that.

Perhaps the smell isn’t in your house but in your new car. Maybe you just bought a new yoga mat and you’re wondering about the rubbery smell.

Don’t despair! Nature has provided us with many safe, effective ways to deodorize the many things we have in our busy lives.

Garbage/trash cans

Indoor garbage cans are among the most logical places that can smell, yet it’s also easy to forget to clean them. Baking soda to the rescue! Sprinkle a small amount at the bottom of your trash can or even directly on the trash. If you want a pleasant smell, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

You also should clean all your trash cans—kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms—frequently with white vinegar and water to help eliminate bacteria. A quick swish, dump the water and vinegar down the drain, and allow to air dry.

Garbage disposal

It’s no surprise that garbage disposals harbor foul odors considering all the stuff we put down there. To freshen your garbage disposal, feed it leftover citrus rinds while it’s running and then finish it off with cold water. To keep the blades clean, grind stale ice cubes in the disposal several times a month, depending on how much you use the disposal.

Read about 12 household items that contain harmful chemicals (and how to avoid them)

Stale household air

Unless you open your windows and doors frequently to allow outside air in, you are probably living with recirculated air, which can mean recirculated foul odors. To get rid of smells naturally, first open the windows (weather permitting) and let some fresh air inside. Then add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to cotton balls and place them in small bowls around the house. You also can put about 10 drops of essential oil in a spray bottle with 6 ounces of water and spritz all of the rooms in your house. Repeat at least several times a month.

Carpets

Carpets absorb odors, especially if you have pets or there are lots of people walking through your home bringing in soil and moisture from outdoors. To eliminate carpet odors, sprinkle baking soda onto the carpet and allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes. If you have pets, do not allow them to interact with the treated carpet. After 30 minutes, vacuum up the baking soda.

Toilet

A tough ring in the toilet can emit an odor. To eliminate the ring and the odor, pour 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of salt, and a few drops of essential oil. Allow the mixture to sit in the toilet for several hours, then scrub with a brush.

Musty basement

Musty basements can be remedied easily by running a dehumidifier. At the same time, combine a few drops of tea tree oil in 8 ounces of cheap vodka and add 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Mix well and put in a spritzer bottle. Spray anything that smells musty. The vodka will evaporate but the tea tree oil aroma will remain.

You also can place small bowls of used, dried coffee grounds or baking soda around the basement to help neutralize the musty odor.

Gym bag

Gym bags can acquire a whole life and odor of their own rather quickly. Here are a few ways to get rid of the funkiness.

• Tea bags: Put a few unused tea bags in your gym bag and in your sneakers overnight and remove them in the morning.
• Wash your gym bag and add 4 ounces of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
• Mist the gym bag with a few drops of essential oil added to water in a spritzer bottle.

Shoes

Shoes are a harbor for the sweat that pours from the 250,000 sweat glands in your feet. Your shoes become smelly when the bacteria residing in them start to multiple in a damp environment. Here are a few tips on how to get rid of smells naturally in your shoes and inserts.

• Fabric shoes can be washed in warm water with 1 cup of white vinegar added to the rinse. Do not use fabric softener because it can trap bacteria in the fabric.
• Are your shoe inserts smelly? Allow them to soak in warm, soapy water for about 30 minutes, then rinse them off. Place them in 2 cups of water and 1 cups of white vinegar. Soak for 10 minutes, then rinse, press to remove as much water as possible, and allow to air dry. Do not dry in the sun!

Read about 4 tips to detox your home with a natural cleaning regimen

New car smell

That new car smell is not only annoying, it also contains harmful byproducts from the plastic and polish in the car. You can eliminate those odors and toxins by stepping up the heat.

Bake the toxins out of your car by raising the interior temperature. If the weather is hot, you can let the car sit in the sun for several hours, then open the windows and allow the toxic air to escape. Follow this by wiping down the interior with a microfiber cloth and a nontoxic deodorizer.  In colder weather, you might place a safe space heater in the car to heat it up. Be sure to monitor the heater during that time.

Yoga mat

Are you bothered by the rubber smell in your yoga mat? Are you finding it challenging to keep your yoga mat clean and smelling fresh after each use? Let’s begin with a new rubber mat.

• To eliminate new rubber smell, air out your met in a well-ventilated area. Never air out a natural rubber mat in direct sunlight.
• Keep your new mat unrolled to allow the smell to escape.
• Spritz your mat with a 50/50 mix of water and apple cider vinegar with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Allow the mat to air dry.

What about the yoga mat you know and love but it still needs to be deodorized?

• Rinse off your yoga mat soon after each use.
• Spray your mat with water and rub a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and gentile soap on both sides of the mat with a soft sponge. Rinse the mat well in the shower. Lay the mat on a thick large towel and roll it up within the towel. Once the towel has absorbed the water, hang the mat and air dry.
• Mix one part tea tree oil with ten parts water in a spray bottle. Spritz both sides of your yoga mat and hang it out to air dry. You can do the same thing using apple cider vinegar: one part vinegar with five parts water.

Bottom line

Bring a breath of fresh air into your home, your car, and your life. You can safely and easily get rid of smells naturally using common household products or one of several all-natural odor removers available on the market. Look for products that are toxic chemical-free and contain essential oils, poly glucosides (naturally derived from corn starch and palm kernel oil), and plant-based fragrances.

[Editor’s Note: Our sponsor Nature Clean makes a great odor-neutralizing product called Stink Bombs (we absolutely love the name). It comes in a spray which is great for couches, carpets, and sports equipment bags and laundry pacs format.] 

Read this next: Tips for Spring Cleaning Naturally

The post How To Get Rid of Smells Naturally appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

Organic mattress vs conventional mattress

Organic mattresses are free of synthetic materials, comply with organic standards (which you can check out below), and have not been treated with chemicals. Not all organic mattresses are the same; they can be composed of organic cotton, organic wool, or organic latex. They are durable, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic.

Read about mattresses: eco-friendly and conventional options

If you are wondering whether organic mattresses keep up with conventional ones when it comes to support, regulation of body temperature, and overall sleep quality, here’s the scoop. They reportedly are great at supporting your body, relieving pressure, and meeting our body temperature needs in the winter and summer.

A benefit you get from an organic mattress is that you are not contributing to more dangerous toxins in the air and thus helping to reduce your carbon footprint. Of course, the obvious advantage of going au natural with your mattress is that you are not exposing your body to dangerous substances every night while you sleep.

Are eco or green mattresses the same as organic ones?

When shopping for an organic mattress, don’t be fooled by words such as “green” or “natural” or “eco.” These are ambiguous terms and are not regulated. Mattresses advertised using these terms are not the same as organic products. Make sure you are getting an organic mattress by checking to see if the product meets the organic standards.

Read about why buy a natural mattress

Toxic substances in conventional mattresses

Conventional mattresses typically contain one or more of the following substances.

Foam: This is made from petroleum, and as you sleep on the mattress, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released from the foam and you may experience irritation of your eyes, nose, and throat, as well as headaches, nausea, and loss of coordination. In addition, propylene oxide and TDI (used to make polyurethane foam) can cause mammary tumors, while toluene is a neurotoxin. Another danger from foam is that is it highly flammable, yet it continues to be used because it is cheap to produce. Foam mattresses are typically heavily treated with chemical flame retardants, which are explained below.

Flame retardants: The most commonly used flame retardants are antimony (a toxic heavy metal that can cause heart, lung, and eye problems), boric acid (causes eye and lung irritation), and halogenated flame retardants. The latter ones can cause neurobehavioral changes, disrupt thyroid hormones, delay puberty and reproductive development, and damage nerve and brain function.

Chemical flame retardants are popular with mattress companies because they are much less expensive than, say, wool, which is a natural flame retardant but more expensive. Because mattress makers aren’t required to let consumers know what flame retardants they use, you need to be very cautious when making your purchase.

Latex: Synthetic latex is made from styrene and butadiene, both of which are VOCs and petroleum based. Manufacturers also may use additional toxins during processing. Exposure to styrene is associated with hearing loss, headache, depression, fatigue, weakness, and an increased risk of developing lymphoma and leukemia. Butadiene can damage the nervous system, irritate the skin and eyes, and may cause cancer.

Natural latex is made from the rubber tree and is expensive as well as time-consuming to produce. Some mattress makers will include a small amount of natural latex to their product and market them as natural latex, even though the majority of the latex is synthetic.

Vinyl: The production of vinyl involves toxic chemicals, including phthalates, dioxins, and heavy metals, which can cause various health problems ranging from triggering allergies and asthma to causing genital defects, cancer, damage to the developing brain, and behavioral problems in children.

Because vinyl is often used to make mattresses waterproof, they are commonly used in baby mattresses. This means infants are being exposed to toxins at a very early age. Manufacturers are not required to reveal that they use vinyl in their mattresses, so you must ask directly.

Comfort and Support

You can expect the same or superior comfort and support from organic mattresses when compared with conventional ones. As with any mattress, you need to try them out to see if they adhere to your needs for comfort and support. Therefore, if at all possible, visit a showroom and actually lie on the mattresses you are considering.

Mattress certifications

Organic mattresses are certified to one of several standards. The mattress you choose should meet these certifications. Here are a few of them.

• Global Organic Textile Standard is the main processing standard for organic fibers and textiles. It ensures the organic status of the textiles used in the produce, from harvesting of raw materials up through labelling of the final product.
• Global Organic Latex Standard is a standard that guarantees the presence of organic latex and finished latex foam mattresses. It specifies that at least 95 percent of the latex used is organic.
• OCS100 Organic Content Standard ensures the tracking of organic materials from their source to the finished product.
• Greenguard requires products meet the standards for more than 360 chemicals. A Greenguard certification guarantees that a mattress is low in phthalates, formaldehyde, VOCs, and other harmful toxins. Note that it is not a certification for organic materials.

Bottom line

Sleeping on an organic mattress is a healthy choice for you and your family. You have many fine brands from which to choose, and here at Natural Savvy we recommend Naturepedic because it meets all the high standards of an organic mattress.

Read this next: Bed Bugs: Do I Have Them and How Can I Get Rid of Them?

DISCLAIMER: This article contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, Naturally Savvy will receive a small commission so we can keep pumping out amazing articles like this one. Thank you so much for your support!

Sources

Aging for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. Toxicological profile for toluene.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological profile for toluene.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carcinogenic effects of exposure to propylene oxide. 1989 July

Global Organic Latex Standard

Global Organic Textile Standard

Kim BN et al. Phthalates exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in school-age children. Biological Psychiatry 2009 Nov 15; 66(10): 958-63

Jaakkola JJ, Knight TL. The role of exposure to phthalates from polyvinyl chloride products in the development of asthma and allergies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives 2008 Jul; 116(7): 845-53

Phthalates and cumulative risk assessment: the tasks ahead. National Research Council (US) Committee on the Health Risks of Phthalates. Washington DC: National Academies Press, 2008.

United States Department of Labor. 1,3-butadiene.

US Department of Health and Human Services. Toxicological profile for polybrominated biphenyls. 2004 Sept.

Zhou T et al. Developmental exposure to brominated diphenyl ethers results in thyroid hormone disruption. Toxicological Science 2002 Mar; 66(1): 105-16

The post Why Consider Choosing an Organic Mattress appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.