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Inspiration for healthy living
Most of us desire to live long, healthy, energetic lives and that's why I've spent the past number of years discovering ways to achieve this goal.
I share my findings below to inspire and encourage you. I hope you find this a useful starting point for doing your own research, bearing in mind we all have different needs, preferences and resources.
"The little positive changes we choose today can make a big difference in the long run."
Lifestyle
Good Sleep
Having plenty quality sleep, especially those few hours before midnight. Turning off phones an hour before bed.
Exercise
Staying fit and healthy and exercising regularly, even just going for walks. Find ways to make it enjoyable.
Eating healthy foods
Having a varied balanced diet with fresh foods made from natural ingredients. Eating fruit and vegetables and choosing healthy fats like avocado, nuts, eggs. Avoiding processed foods, meats (sausages, bacon, hotdogs), alcohol, seed oils, sugary snacks.
Water
Drinking plenty fresh clean water daily to hydrate and cleanse your body and refresh your mind.
Sunlight and fresh air
Starting your day with some natural light and enjoying the fresh air outdoors, especially on lovely sunny days.
Relaxation
Finding ways to switch off, chill out and relax and make time for yourself to do things that help you refresh.
Joy
Life is to be enjoyed, so we should regularly fill it with people and things that make us feel joyful and bring a smile to our face.
Love
Spend quality time with those you love, create happy memories to treasure and look back on. Be positive, show kindness, have faith, forgive where necessary.
Foods
Organic
Eating fresh organic foods where possible to avoid pesticides and reduce chemical intake.
Free From
Checking labels carefully and avoiding unnecessary and unknown synthetic ingredients, colours, preservatives. Choose alternatives or make your own fresh where possible.
Home baked
Bake, eat fresh and know exactly what's in your food. Breads, healthy muffins, pasta, protein snacks, sauces, dressings.
Home grown
Grown your own fruit, vegetables and herbs and avoid unwanted chemicals. Use natural methods to protect seedlings, like planting rosemary nearby.
Oils, fats and salt
Olive Oil
Find a quality brand of extra-virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed olive oil in a glass jar. Known best for consuming fresh on pastas and salads.
Avocado Oil
Find a quality brand of extra-virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed avocado oil in a glass jar. Known for withstanding higher cooking temperatures.
Ghee Butter
Clarified butter for cooking, roasting, baking, frying, with a range of benefits, although it may not suit everyone as it is a saturated fat.
Beef Tallow
Good for high heat cooking, like roasting potatoes, although it may not suit everyone as it is a saturated fat.
Coconut Oil
I use this in baking, occasional cooking, and for hair conditioning masks. Advice is to use in moderation, with it being a saturated fat.
Salt
Replace basic table salt with mineral packed natural unrefined Celtic or Pink Himalayan salt.
Materials
Stainless Steel
Choosing 18/10 grade Stainless Steel cookware, kettles, containers, reusable bottles, drink/food flasks, lids on jars, cutlery, straws (with silicone mouthpiece), and items like razors.
Glassware
Look for quality borosilicate glass which is free from harmful chemicals like BPA, lead, phthalates. Good for storage containers, glasses, jugs, teapots, mixing bowls. Amber glass container bottles also protect light-sensitive products.
Natural Wood
Utensils, food preparation boards, fruit bowls, lids on jars, toothbrush handles, hairbrushes, combs, coat-hangers, furniture, home decor, toys. Opt for hardwoods (e.g. beech, maple) for utensils and check they have natural finishes (or none). Dry them thoroughly before storing.
Ceramic
Lead-free, cadmium free ceramic. Toothbrush holders and soap dishes, cups and dishware. Remember to replace when marked or scratched. Porcelain is a similar alternative.
Bamboo
An alternative for items like container lids. Bamboo is also used in kitchen rolls and toilet rolls. Remember to buy from reputable brands to ensure bamboo is pure and not mixed with plastics.
Silicone
Preferred alternative to plastic when it comes to flexible utensils and seals on jars, containers and flasks, where a more natural alternative is hard to find.
Organic Cotton
Soft, lightweight, breathable natural material used for clothing, bedding, towels, bags and furnishing fabrics. Look for unbleached, certified 100% organic cotton.
Wool
Natural, breathable, hypoallergenic, temperature regulating and biodegradable. Good option for bedding, pillow and duvet filling, blankets, clothing, home furnishing and furniture fabrics (e.g. rugs, beds).
Personal care
Body Care
Choosing products with natural biodegradable ingredients (free from harmful additives) for shampoo, conditioner, body wash and moisturisers.
Lip balm
Look for 100% natural pure handmade products, using ingredients like beeswax, honey, and natural oils.
Floss
Consider silk dental floss made from ingredients like beeswax and organic mint.
Paper towels and toilet rolls
Look for natural, fragrance and dye free, unbleached, eco-friendly options. Bamboo is a popular option at the moment. Choose from reputable brands.
Sanitary items
Choose natural unbleached organic cotton sanitary products free from plastics, chlorine and fragrances.
Cleaning
Dish washing
Check the label for ingredients and choose non-toxic options without alcohols, artificial colours, fragrances and heavy chemicals.
Household cleaning
Go chemical free where products are concerned. Otherwise lemon, baking soda and vinegar are said to be great natural cleansers. Pure essential oils (e.g. orange or lavender) and sweet smelling flowers also provide natural fragrances.
Laundry
Search for non-toxic products like castile soap which is multi-purpose and good for cleaning laundry, dishes and general purpose cleaning.
Vacuum cleaning
Good idea to vacuum clean your home weekly (especially carpets) to remove all the dust to help keep your air as fresh as possible.
Air purifying house plants
Spider plant ~ Chlorophytum Comosum
Easy to grow and they love bright light. Good at absorbing formaldehyde (found in plywood, glues) and carbon monoxide.
Aloe Vera
Great for the bedroom as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen overnight. Known to remove formaldehyde, benzene (found in fuel) and other VOCs. Aloe vera gel also helps soothe skin. Place in a bright area and water regularly.
Areca Palm ~ Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens
They give off water vapour, making them ideal for dry environments. They prefer humid places and can grow up to 12 feet. Good at removing toluene (found in paints, glues, nail varnish removers) and xylene (petroleum products). Choose ones with thicker stems for good stability.
Rubber Plant ~ Ficus Elastica 'Robusta'
Sturdy plant and good at removing formaldehyde from indoor air. Can grow to 10 feet. Remember not to overwater and keep out of direct sunlight.
Janet Craig ~ Dracaena Deremensis
Good at removing trichloroethylene (found in paints, varnishes). Easy to grow, long lasting, can grow up to 10 feet and they prefer semi-shade.
Yucca
Good for filtering out toxins like formaldehyde and benzene. Relatively low maintenance, likes lots of light and a little water.
Boston Fern ~ Nephrolepis exaltata
Good for filtering out formaldehyde and benzene. Requires frequent misting and watering, prefers humid conditions and thrives in bright indirect light. Prone to small bugs, so may need repotting.
Orchids
Beautiful and low maintenance, requiring less watering than most plants. Known to remove toxins and release oxygen, making them good bedroom plants.
Chrysanthemum
Beautiful, vibrant and when flowering they help remove formaldehyde, benzene and xylene from indoor air. Easy to care for, simply make sure they get plenty sunlight and water frequently.
Things to consider
Loose tea leaves
Avoid tea bags by opting for organic loose tea leaves - they taste so much more delicious too!
Simplify your home
Declutter and clear out things you don't need. Perhaps consider managing without a microwave and using the hob/oven instead to heat up food in stainless steel cookware.
Buy fresh and local
By choosing to buy your foods from local organic shops you are more likely to be able to buy food not wrapped in plastic.
Compost
When gardening, look for organic, peat-free, chemical-free compost, especially when used for growing food for consumption.
Final thoughts...
Fluoride-free toothpaste
Searching to find a fluoride-free and more natural based toothpaste that keeps teeth healthy and strong.
Cosmetics
Searching to find chemical free cosmetics. Even though my skin feels much healthier without makeup, I do miss occasionally wearing nail varnish!
Water filters
Many say filters help to remove metals, chlorine, pesticides and contaminants from tap water.
Wheat milling
Milling your own wheat (to make your own flour for bread and pasta) is said to ensure nutritional minerals are not lost.
Fruit and vegetable wash
Said to be good for cleaning chemicals and pesticides off your food, which sounds handy when organic options are hard to come by.
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