i was reading through Re-Nest today (part of the Apartment Therapy blog family)and i found a DIY Fruit and Veggie wash that i thought would be good to pass on. Fruits and veggies should always be a big part of your everyday diet...no matter where you buy your produce you should always give it a good wash (especially if you buy your produce at the grocery store). Waxes and other preservative coatings are sprayed on your produce prior to them being stocked at your store. While they most likely wont harm you, its just a good idea to give your fruits and veggies a good wash.

Produce Wash

1 cup water
1 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon baking soda
20 drops grapefruit seed extract (available at Whole Foods or your local health food store or you can substitute lemon juice in a pinch)

Combine all ingredients in a large container. Then, transfer to a spray bottle with a pump. Spray mixture on produce (avoid using on mushrooms), let sit 5 to 10 minutes and rinse.

Alternative (good for berries, beans and smaller produce)

Large bowl or sink of cool water
4 tablespoons salt
Juice of 1/2 lemon.

Combine water and salt. When salt has dissolved, add lemon juice. Soak produce for 10 minutes and rinse.

xoxo
-e

Healthy Living

I read many blogs everyday....in one of my regulars she mentioned a healthy living/lifestyle blog called Chemical Free Skinny ...so i started reading it. There is alot of useful information on that blog...people write in with questions I know I have asked myself before and other questions that i hadn't yet thought of asking. They also post new health alerts, post yummy healthy receipes,living green tips, and fun facts.

While Im not the most healthiest of people...i do enjoy a good cheeseburger from time to time...i am trying to make a conscience effort to do better. i will be 27 in 2 months exactly from today and i need to start taking better care of my body so it will hold up.

Here are some tips that i absorbed while reading Chemical Free Skinny today:

-Aspartame (artificial sweetner that is in everthing aka *Nurta Sweet, Equal, Sucralos, or the Pink Packets) turns into formaldehyde when heated up to 86*F...our body stays around 96*F or higher on a hot day. I have always been allergic to Aspartame or any other derivative so I know I'm safe but i have many friends and family members that drink diet sodas, juices, energy drinks, etc that contain this....Stop people..its killing you!!

-Oatmeal and Onion Puree face mask - helps unclog pores and heal acne scars. Go here for the receipe

-Lemon and Yogurt Whitening face mask - can lighten acne or other scaring without the strong chemicals put in OTC "dark spot removers." Go here for the receipe

-Nitrate in processed meats is a large contributor to weight gain

-Refrigerate berries as soon as possible. Dont allow berries to be out of refrigeration for longer than 2 hours. Always wash before refrigerating or before eatting

-Buy local - google farmers markets near your zip code. take cash just in case and your own produce bags (use cloth or reuse plastic bags from previous grocery trips). You may find other fun things there too like natural soaps, fresh flowers, and other homemade products!

-clean your computer desk/workspace often with anti-bacterial cleaners...there is alot of hidden ick all over it



im not saying you need to move into a treehouse powered by bicycle and scavenge for nuts and berries, but small changes in your lifestyle will improve your overall life experience. this post is mainly for me...i need to live more healthy...and maybe you'll get something good out of it too. i will continue to pass on any good nuggets of info when i find them.

xo
-e