S.A.L.T. – Part II – Solutions About Life Force/Longevity Today
Here is the continuation to my previous article with the second title for the four letters S.A.L.T.
SOLUTIONS – We can find many solutions or no solutions to life’s challenges. We can live on the sidelines and do nothing at all and just let life unfold or else TAKE CHARGE! and make a “life” for ourselves. How do you go about doing this? Start listening to your “inner self.”
Here is a personal example for you to understand what I mean: when I was a child, my family and I attended synagogue and after the services they sometimes had a luncheon. At home, we did not have any soda to drink, but at the synagogue they did have and I decided to try some.
I did not take the dark cola, rather the Sprite, thinking it was better because it was a clear color. Of course, as the story unfolds, I was completely wrong! After I took a sip or two, I had to burp from the carbonation and I still remember to this day how it made me feel.
I had a burning sensation come out of my nostrils and felt a tightness in my chest. Then and there I decided on my own to NEVER drink it or any carbonated beverage again! Other people let themselves get accustomed to it and then it’ll go away. I refused to do that. I found the solution because I did not like how it made me feel physically.
My friend, Frederic, is offering these amazing deals on some of his best products to date exclusively for my readers. These offers will be available for a short time, so don’t delay!
Please click on the links below to find out more details and order the products.
Don’t forget to use the coupon codes for the discounts.
Here is information I am quoting from their website:
The first and only cosmetics colored from antioxidant rich fruit and vegetable pigments. While other color cosmetics are colored with either synthetic dyes or minerals, only 100% Pure color cosmetics are colored with fruit & vegetable pigments (patents pending)! All the antioxidants and vitamins in fruits are in the actual color, so you will be applying all the healthy nutrients of the fruits directly on your skin!
1- Lip Balms – the company has a line of 3 different lip balms. Organic Mint Lip Balm – I am a fan of mint and like the tingly feeling it gives my lips. Organic Cherry Lip Balm – when I put it on my lips, I can taste the cherry and I know it is not a chemical derivative, but the “real thing.” For both of them, the fact that it’s organic is always a plus and something I look for whenever I shop. Also, when I eat, if some of it gets into my mouth it will not be harmful to me like the commercial products, such as “Chapstick.” The balms are moisturizing and softens my lips. Another added bonus, when you take the cap off of both lips balms and smell them, it is aromatherapeutic. The final lip balm Lysine + Herbs Lip Balm is not meant to be used as a traditional lip balm, as it is meant as a cold sore treatment. Again, this product is also 100 percent natural, 100 percent vegetarian and gluten free. This is a great product to use instead of all those chemically-laden ones that are sold and only “mask” the problem and don’t take care of it.
Here is the information from their site about this product: 100% Pure Lysine + Herbs Lip Balm Cold Sore Treatment is an all-natural healing ointment specially formulated with lysine to minimize the effects of the herpes virus. Lysine is an amino acid (naturally found in milk, poultry, eggs, and potatoes) that has been shown in studies to prevent the virus from multiplying, greatly reducing the length and severity of an outbreak. Additional herbs in 100% Pure Lysine + Herbs Lip Balm Cold Sore Treatment help to alleviate cold sore symptoms, such as burning, itching, and irritation, while coconut oil provides deep hydration. It’s a soothing, holistic remedy in a tube!
2- Key Lime & Mint Hydrating Hand Wash – I was really excited to try out this product and didn’t know what to expect when I received it. The product appears liquid, but when you open it and press the pump, it comes out as a foam. I was a bit confused as to how this can be. The saying, “looks can be deceiving,” is true in this case, but not in a negative way. I didn’t understand how this product works, so I emailed Lydia and asked her a question.
My question about the hand wash:
I am really interested in knowing how the hand wash creates the foam, as I would like to talk about it and how it works without using chemicals like whipped cream does. It is really great!
Answer from Lydia Yang:
Coconut Stearic Acid is a surfactant derived from coconut oil and recall that a surfactant is a cleansing agent. We use it as a foaming agent specifically because it is naturally derived. The auto-foaming pump on the handwash also helps the handwash to create a lather.
Now it makes complete sense. Thanks for clearing this up for me and also for my readers to know. When you press the pump, you don’t need a lot to get your hands washed and clean, as it is concentrated (otherwise, you’ll have a residue left on your hands). You rub your hands together and do not wash them off after. It feels soft and hydrating and doesn’t irritate my skin. It doesn’t have any alcohol or harsh ingredients so my hands do not feel dry and chapped. It is also loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and anti-aging nutrients. One of the ingredients that stands out for me is the oregano which is naturally anti-bacterial and kills germs. There are also other natural anti-bacterial ingredients in this product. This product is also 100% natural and 100% vegan. Most people use “Purell” that has such harsh ingredients that dry out the skin and are full of chemicals. I can’t stand that product, especially when I am around someone who has just used it and I get a whiff, it really bothers me and affects my lungs. I wish they would have a travel size of this product so I can take it with me wherever I go.
3- Fruit Pigmented Eye Shadow – I tried two other eyeshadows in Hazelnut and Cocoa Plum. Both eye shadows are 100% natural, 100% vegan and gluten free. They are colored with antioxidant and vitamin rich fruit pigments. They feel soft & silky when I put them on and give a nice sparkle to the eyes. I use the cruelty-free eye shadow brush from 100% Pure and make sure I get enough of the product on the brush for it to be visible on my eye. Since there are never any chemicals in the products they don’t have the bright neon colors you’d find with such commercial brands like, “Cover Girl” that are made from dyes and chemicals. I am happy to know that I’m not putting cancer causing chemical dyes on my skin (which is the largest organ and whatever is put on it, is absorbed immediately into the body) and will avoid anything that does because I read all the labels before I buy!
This company has so many fabulous products and also have special offers on their homepage. If you would like to read more about this company, scroll down to the right-hand column titled Blogroll and click on the link to their website.
You can check out my YouTube channel for other videos: http://www.youtube.com/TheRawsomeVeganGal Subscribe to my channel if you have a Gmail, Google+, Picasa, YouTube, Orkut or Google Chrome account and then you can also leave a comment and like my videos.
My friend, Frederic, is offering these amazing deals on some of his best products to date exclusively for my readers. These offers will be available for a short time, so don’t delay!
Please click on the links below to find out more details and order the products.
Don’t forget to use the coupon codes for the discounts.
S.W. Basics of Brooklyn: All-Natural Sustainable Skincare in business since 2009 under the name “Sprout Wellness” and the current brand name since November 2012
I met Adam Poor, VP of S.W. Basics of Brooklyn at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim during the month of March 2013. The company was introducing their products at the Organic Marketplace (features only certified organic products). I am always searching for the best products that are also of the highest quality and integrity. I don’t want you, my readers, to settle either. I hope you do your research as diligently as I do before you shop for any and all products you use – food, household, body and skincare. If you are lazy, they you came to the right place because I do the “legwork” for you. When I find a product I don’t simply use it because the company makes the “claim” that it is healthy, natural, good for me. Those words are used too commonly and matter-of-factly in the world today and have lost their true meaning (back in the day products were made by your grandmother/great-grandmother from natural ingredients you had in home like oils, vinegar, beeswax, essential oils, herbs, flowers, etc). I research the ingredients used, check out there site, talk to them in person/on the phone and them I am ready to test it out for myself if it meets my “hyper-high” standards of purity, integrity and environmental consciousness.
You may say, it is nice to talk about this, but are there really companies creating/producing products that are truly natural? Yes, there are! There are those people who are “fed up” with all the “garbage” sold in the supermarkets, drug stores, retailers and even health food stores (sad to say, they aren’t immune from it and sell products that used to be authentic, but now have “sold out” to BIG companies that are only looking for profits as their “bottom line!”)
S.W. Basics of Brooklyn is definitely in the category of doing it right! They only use 5 or less ingredients in all their products. On top of that, they are organic, fair trade, American-made, ingredients sourced from small family farms, made from scratch without synthetics or cheap fillers. You get the whole potent product that isn’t watered down. Too many products claim to have in them, for example, an essential oil and either has a very minuscule amount in it or is a chemical derivative and doesn’t even ever resemble the natural ingredient in smell or look. To put the “icing on the cake,” they even have the “nerve/chutzpah” to put a beautiful picture on the bottle/container of the herb used to create the essential oil to trick the consumer/customer to believe it has that ingredient in it. Most of the time, if you took it to a chemist to analyze, there may not even be a trace of what they claim. I wish there was more “police-ing” of the health and beauty industry to filter out all the crap from what is truly made with integrity and care for the people and the planet.
Adam was nice enough to send me the 4 varieties/flavors of the beeswax lip balms to test out and review on my blog. As I said before, their products are made with 5 natural ingredients or less and that holds true for there lip balms, as well. If you don’t believe me (ok, so if you are a new follower, you may be skeptical and if you are a “regular,” then you know I am not fooling you because you have probably already tried other products I recommended in my posts), then check the website for yourself (link is on the right-hand side of the page under the column titled Blogroll.
Each one of the lip balms has a distinct taste to it. Yes, that is what I said! Remember when you put any lip gloss, lipstick or lip balm on your lips, ultimately you will taste it in your mouth from licking your lips or after you bite into some food while it is still on. If you are eating the healthiest and best organic food, why would you want to also “consume”chemicals by way of what you put on your lips? Maybe you never thought of that, but it is absolutely true! You don’t have to worry when you use these lip balms, as they will not harm you.
The most basic of the 4 lip balms, is the Cocoa variety that only had 3 ingredients. It goes on smooth and has a silky feel. I can smell (yes, there is the added benefit of aromatherapy when you breathe in the ingredients) the cocoa butter. It brings back memories of when you could detect the aroma at the beach as people slathered it on their bodies. With all 4 varieties, my lips stay moist and healthy. The next flavor, Peppermint has 4 ingredients and makes my lips tingle – it lasts for a while so enjoy the sensation. It perks you up, too when you breathe in the peppermint. It doesn’t have that “fake” unnatural scent. I know because I am a vegan/raw food chef and use lots of fresh herbs to add flavor and accent to my dishes. The third flavor, Citrus has 5 ingredients and I can smell the citrus immediately. Again, their is the aromatherapeutic affect (you can put it on your lips and also smell it!) which you may not realize. This is one of my favorites. I will give you the RVG (Rawsome Vegan Gal)rating at the end. The final one is, Cinnamon that also has 5 ingredients. As soon as I take the cap off of it, I can smell the cardamom. It has a strong and powerfully distinct aroma.
The RVG Rating for the four lip balms (in order of like – Disclaimer: this may be different then on my YouTube video, as I made that first and don’t remember what I said
1- COCOA: I like the simplicity of ingredients, subtle flavor and the creamy texture
2- CITRUS: I love citrus and it is also aromatherapeutic – added bonus
3- PEPPERMINT: Nice tingle, smell isn’t offensive or overbearing and it perks you up
4- CINNAMON: Strong aroma and to me has a more masculine appeal
Please check out their website for more information about all the skincare products and their fantastic story. Scroll down this page and on right-hand side you will find the link under the column titled Blogroll.
I also did a video review and had FUN doing it and my disclaimer/preface is: “don’t mind my manners” and I repeat it in the video, as well (you’ll see why). You can check out my YouTube channel for other videos: http://www.youtube.com/TheRawsomeVeganGal Subscribe to my channel if you have a Gmail, Google+, Picasa, YouTube, Orkut or Google Chrome account and then you can also leave a comment and like my videos.
S.A.L.T. – Stop/Seek/Select/Slow down And Listen/Live Today or Solutions About Life force/Longevity Today
How did I come up with the title for this article? Well, I was thinking that I am not a fan of using salt because it isn’t a necessary mineral for the body (more on that later), but I wanted to come up with something positive based on the letters that make up that word and came up with the acronym.
I thought of two titles for the same 4 letters (with a few words for some of the letters). I am sure there are many others you can think of and are welcome to include your suggestions in the comments below.
What does any of this have to do with health? Raw foods? Lots!
We get so wrapped up in what we are eating and forget that there is more to life then eating. If you walk down the street and eavesdrop on others conversations to each other and on the phone, they are usually talking about where they will eat, what they will eat, going on a diet, is this food good for you, this doctor says to eat this and another says something else, etc.
Food consumption is a minuet part of a healthy lifestyle. What is the healthiest food to eat is debatable, to a certain degree, but overall it has been proven by many reputable authorities, including Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Joel Fuhrman that Whole Food Plant Based is ideal. Whether you eat 100 percent raw vegan or not, isn’t the issue! If you want to arrest or avert the diseases that are rampant in our society today, there is no doubt this is a very important part of how we live.
My friend, Frederic, is offering these amazing deals on some of his best products to date to my readers.
These offers will be available for a short time.
Please click on the links below to find out more details and order the products.
Don’t forget to use the coupon codes for the discounts.
Toockies-Hand Knit Organic Cotton Housewares in business since 2008
I met Anna Marie, the CEO of Sinko Corp., who distributes Toockies, at the annual Expo West in Anaheim during the month of March 2013 (the largest trade show in the world for the Natural Product Industry). She had a booth at the Organic Marketplace (features only certified organic products) and displayed her products. I was intrigued to see these organic cotton housewares and wanted to know more. She told me more about the products and I took a brochure and business card so I could follow up in the future. I have never seen any products like this anywhere!
I gathered a lot of information, brochures and samples of products at the expo. I am very discriminating and discerning to choose only what I know is the healthiest, purest and of the highest integrity. If I am going to test the product myself it has to abide by my standards. I am not willing to compromise and that is why I ONLY share with my readers what I has researched to be the best. It is very easy to just choose anything and just “settle.” I don’t want the cheapest/most expensive products if they are not good for me. It is QUALITY that I am looking for in all that I use/consume – food, household products, personal care, etc.
The first product I used was the Hand Knit Dish Cloths. They are hand knit of 100% organic cotton by a group of poor women in Calcutta, India so they can earn a living wage. Always machine wash and dry before use and then again after use to disinfect and may become absorbent after many times washing. You can use the cloth to scrub any surfaces in your home and you soak it is water and then ring out as much as possible. I wanted to use it in the kitchen to wipe up around the sink, as the faucet tends to splash all over. I have been using it without soaking it first. Even though it isn’t meant for absorbing water it work fine for me.
Then second product I used was the Circulation Gloves. They are also hand knit of 100% cotton. Again, machine wash and dry before first use. You can use this inside or outside of your bath/shower as a wet and dry scrub. I used it while I was taking a shower and soaked them in water. You can use soap on them, but I just used water. Watch my video to see recommendations for using the gloves. They are great to stimulate circulation and exfoliate the skin.
I am really happy that this company makes great products that are also economical, Eco-ethical, hygienic, offer work for poor women who are now able to sustain themselves and provide a better life for their family. We are not meant to be a “throw away” society, as it is destroying the planet. Reusing these products for many years will help you to avoid the continual disposal of paper towels, loofahs or other scrub cloths (that are not hygienic since they are not cleaned properly after each use).
I emailed Anna Maria as I had some concerns/questions regarding the circulation gloves.
Mindy says:
I used the circulation gloves and washed them before use, of course and put in dryer, too. It takes a lot of heat to dry them, though and I wanted to see about air drying them, instead. After I used them, there was some discoloration on the gloves, probably came off from my skin. Then I washed them again and hung them to dry, but there is a smell that is not so fresh and lovely. I don’t use any harsh detergents to wash. I use a product called soap nuts and is 100 percent pure – more then detergents like seventh generation. I don’t know if you have ever had this issue. I will not use any commercial products for cleaning. Also, the discoloration is still visible on the gloves. What are your thoughts/comments?
Anna Maria’s reply:
Yes, they are raw thick cotton so it does take time to dry them (less over time as the cotton softens). I machine wash and dry and recommend everyone do so as this does get rid of yellowing and smell. A bit of a naturally bleaching agent also helps if yellowing is not going away as quick as you would like. I just add it to the pile of cloths from that day and toss it in. They do yellow if left out for a while but that usually disappears for me when I wash them. I do use a detergent (eco-friendly detergent) in the wash. The smell is from the raw cotton and doesn’t go away unless you machine wash and dry. After a few times in the wash they become softer, take longer to get rid of yellowing and will smell of what every you use on them or wash them with.
The greatest challenge in using this product is changing the way you use your bath scrub product. Most people use a scrubber and then leave it for a couple of days before washing or disposing of it. This is not recommended as it is not very hygienic. This product requires you to be proactive in keeping the products you use on your body clean. Rinsing a cloth in the shower and letting it hang is not clean. Please give them some time and remember to keep them clean. They will last you a very long time and save you time and money. If used as recommended they will keep you from scrubbing dead skin cells back on to your skin giving you a cleaner clean. I hope this helps. If you have any more questions please let me know.
Thanks very much, Anna Marie, this is great information for me and my readers because they may have the same issue when using these products themselves.
I have a link to the website product pages that I reviewed in this post.
BioBag- certified Compostable food storage bags formerly PolarGruppen AS started producing compostable plastics in Norway in 1993
I have had the pleasure of testing out many of the products that BioBag has on the market/are coming out soon. Thank you Jennifer Wagner, for being so generous is the samples you have sent to me. You can find a few other posts on my blog about the company (a Q & A with Jennifer) and reviews of other products. I hope I can encourage a lot MORE people to choose plastic products that are good for them and the planet because they actually aren’t made of chemical plastic ingredients. I look forward to a continued relationship with you and your company and can’t wait for the next product(s) to come out!
I had known from 2012 Expo West in Anaheim that BioBag was working on some food storage bags that were in the working phase, but not ready to sell to the public. Going back to the Expo in 2013, I stopped by their booth and saw the new products. I was so excited and got some samples to take home. I was staying with a family in the area and gave it to them to try out because I know they are interested in alternative/healthier choices.
They have three different food storage bags: fold top sandwich bags, sandwich resealable bags and quart size food storage resealable bags. I loved the look and feel of them when I first saw them at the show and was excited to try them out at home. Why does it matter that you use these bags as opposed to the “traditional” Ziplock bags? Plastics are so rampant in our world and the saddest part is that they are entering into our waters and creating a horrific state for those that inhabit the waters. The plastic breaks down to the smallest particles and the birds, fish, etc think it is food and eat it and the plastics and other disposables end up killing them. It is called “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” Watch this for more info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT3c6cw1Arc
We can start to do our part in “Changing the World Without Changing The Earth” – quoted from the boxes of the BioBag products. This is the best option to use (they also sell dog waste bags, lawn and garden bags, handle bags, produce bags and cling wrap) and is available. Everyone needs to “get on the bandwagon,” so to speak. These products aren’t a knockoff of the chemically-based ones and fall apart (well, that is not completely true, as they eventually break down naturally because it is certified Compostable and I have seen it happen myself in my yard) because they are made of quality material, called Mater-Bio (please search on google for an explanation or check out one of my other blog posts for BioBag that explain what it is).
Most people are willing to spend on things like cellphones, TVs, cars, jewelry and clothes. When it comes to what really matters such as your food choices, relationships, etc not all want to make the effort. There is so much we can do and it doesn’t take much effort. These products are of high quality and integrity with the extra bonus of not being made of any chemicals, whatsoever! Every household needs to buy these products because we can say a lot with our purchases. I know that I don’t want my food to be in plastic bags – would you want to be wrapped in plastic? I am sure if you are a chemist and had the material tested, you would never want to use it again!
It is time for everyone to Wake Up! Our world is continually being “Trashed” and it is time to stop, once and for all! I wish every grocery/supermarket/retailers sold these bags and also used them at their checkouts/produce department. Some may say the the cost of using the Compostable produce bags or handle bags are too expensive to use, I don’t get it! We are all causing the pollution of this planet in one way or another (yes, there are those that produce zero waste, but the amount is unfortunately, very minimal). I don’t claim to be perfect, but I try my best to do better every day with my choices and I want to pass along the information to the public.
These three new food storage bags are great especially for mothers who are packing lunch for their children or taking a sandwich/snacks to the park, beach or work. It is great to know that you don’t have to worry that the chemicals from the bag are transferring to your food. I also use the resealable bags to store dried grains and beans. The bags are very strong and they zip tight. If you use part of a fruit/vegetable and have some left over, you can put it in a food storage bag. I actually rinse them to reuse unless they get really dirty and are hard to clean out.
One thing I would like to see improved is the perforations for opening the box, as it doesn’t work that well. Once you get it open, there is no problem. I also noticed that after a while the ink on the outside of the food storage bags (has the company name printed on it with their logo) seems to rub off. I contacted Jennifer and she told me that these bags are produced at a different facility then the other ones and is looking into it. Those things are minor to me, compared to all the benefits for you and the planet there is by using them and all of their other products.
If you would like to check out their products and where to purchase them, there is a link to their website on the right-hand side of the page by scrolling down to the heading Blogroll
Check out the video review on my YouTube channel – TheRawsomeVeganGal
to say, they aren’t immune from it and sell products that used to be authentic, but now have “sold out” to BIG companies that are only looking for profits as their “bottom line!”)
