Cleansing

There has never been a time when the hand sanitizers in the health food stores are flying off the shelves faster than they can be restocked. Over a year since the pandemic began, hand sanitizer is still essential. It doesn’t matter whether you’re running a quick errand or spending the full day at work, we’re willing to bet you have at least one bottle in your purse, maybe even another in your car. These days, you simply cannot leave the house without at least one bottle of hand sanitizer. However, many of these sanitizers, even the ones sold at health food stores, are made up of 70% alcohol and can be extremely drying to the hands. Hand sanitizer is certainly a great product, but there is another that is just as effective: Colloidal silver. This lesser-known sanitizer may sound unrelated, but it’s extremely versatile as a purse staple. A small bottle of colloidal silver takes up little space yet serves many purposes. What is colloidal silver? When comparing the bottles, colloidal silver is similar to hand sanitizer. They are both clear liquids that come in small spray bottles. The difference lies in the ingredients list. While hand sanitizer is composed of alcohol, preservatives, and scents, colloidal silver is described as tiny particles of silver suspended in a liquid. Its only ingredients are silver and purified water. Don’t worry, you won’t see the “silver” in the liquid because they are nanoparticles and less than 100nm in size. How can you use colloidal silver? Before antibiotics were discovered, colloidal silver was used as an all-purpose remedy for infections and pathogens. Not only does it kill bacteria, but it can also fight viruses and fungi like candida. To reap its antimicrobial properties, you can use it as a topical spray or ingest it internally.  Most popular uses for colloidal silver sprays spray on hands to use as hand sanitizer spray on the face after a long day of mask-wearing, to prevent mask (acne caused by wearing masks long-term) spray in the mouth at the first sign of cold or flu spray in the eyes to clear out an eye infection spray on external wounds to prevent infections spray on the scalp to fight dandruff Best options: Sovereign Silver Spray 59mL*, Sovereign Silver Silver Hydrosol 946mL* *when spraying in the mouth, please follow the instructions on the bottle Is colloidal silver safe? Even though colloidal silver has many anti-microbial uses, not everyone is completely sold on the product. Silver itself is present in our everyday environment and we are constantly exposed to small amounts. Can ingesting it as a supplement be toxic? Current studies show that the risk for chronic exposure to colloidal silver is not well known. As with any substance, there can be a risk of overdose, but the exact amounts and time frame needed for colloidal silver to cause this are not known. Considering how long it’s been used and how effective it’s been, the risk of overexposure is likely low. Using colloidal silver as a spray ensures you are using low quantities, and many supplements contain low concentrations of silver. Nonetheless, it is recommended to use colloidal silver with caution. Author Grace Tien is a women’s health holistic nutritionist. She helps her clients optimize their nutrition habits so that they can get rid of afternoon slumps and live each day full of energy. Grace specializes in nutrition for healthy periods, you can find out more at @gracetien.ca on Instagram.

Over the past several months most of us have experienced a “Home Life” comparable to Groundhog Day.  In the beginning of CoVID, you may have felt the desire to kick-start a new healthy eating plan, or tackle those in home workouts with a vengeance.  However, as time has waged on, the motivation may have started to dissipate and your daily exercise consists of a multitude of trips to the fridge to check if the light is still working (FYI: It is.) Then throw in fashion consisting of daytime and nighttime stretchy pants with no buttons or zippers, and it is safe to say most of us are experiencing a CoVID 15lb weight gain. But it’s not all our fault. When we are faced with a stressful situation our bodies release the hormone called cortisol. This reaction causes our blood sugar levels to rise resulting in a craving for foods high in fat, sugar and salt in order to replenish the glucose. Yet now as we prepare to go back out into our “New Normal” we are finding our skinny jeans are not so skinny anymore; our shorts from last year must have shrunk and with little chance of a new wardrobe on the horizon, weight loss is something we may need to seriously consider for our healthiest selves. However, we know diets do not work, restriction leads to binging, and truthfully finding balance in an unbalanced world seems impossible. So what can we do right now that will get those buttons done up and bring some consistency back into our days?   Here are 6 Weight Loss Tips you can start implementing today to deal with the COVID 15lbs.  Tip #1: Make a Plan:We technically all know what we should be doing, drinking those 8-10 glasses of water a day, choosing lean protein, whole grains, healthy fats, high fibre, and nutrient dense foods. Start reading the ingredient profiles of the foods you buy, aim for food lower in sugar and refined carbs. Making choices that support your goals is essential. However, when faced with the plethora of tasty treats, we can often forget our commitment to removing the new curves we have adopted. So the next time you make a trip to the grocery store, be prepared and take a list. On that list write your health and wellness goals on the top and plan out your meals for the next couple days. Then if you hear the box of cookies calling your name you can remember your “Why.” And maybe instead of buying a box of 24 deluxe chocolate chip cookies, head to the bakery section and settle on one or two. Even better, pick yourself up an antioxidant rich, dark chocolate bar. As you cruise the store stay on the perimeter and avoid the inner aisle that mostly consists of packaged, processed foods. Remember, a healthy immune system relies on both the Macro (protein, fats and carbs) and Micro (vitamins and minerals) but we must make sure we choose the right kinds.   Tip #2: Am I Really Hungry?How many times have you caught yourself elbow deep in a bag of chips or pint of ice cream only to realize that you can’t remember when you started. Often when we find ourselves mindlessly eating it is important to stop and ask  “Am I REALLY hungry? Or am I bored, lonely, upset?” Finding comfort in food is common and refereed to as emotional eating. Given the current state of the unknown, food can easily become our comfort and friend. The best way to start connecting to your hunger cues is to start being mindful of when you are eating, why you are eating, and how your food tastes. Take the time to savour your food and enjoy each bite.  There is no prize for she/he who finishes first.  Another way to bring mindfulness to your hunger cues is first thing in the morning. If your morning schedule is to eat first thing, hold back a bit and wait until you feel a little hungry. Then enjoy your first meal.  The purpose behind this is to set the tone of the day by honouring what you need. Start the day by tuning in to what your body needs and then responding to it.  As the day progresses continue to pay attention if you are hungry or looking for comfort. This is not about restriction but about connecting.    Tip #3: Use Your Hands:Now, we all know our parents have told us to use our utensils when we eat so this concept may throw you off but one issue I have seen time and time again is portion control. And with serving sizes becoming increasingly larger it is no wonder our waistbands are following.  Make a point of serving your food on plates and dishes; stop snackin ...

Take a load off - you deserve to relax and give yourself a treat this weekend. Baths are an amazing opportunity to relax the body and reap in beneficial nutrients for the skin. I like to make my own healing bath infusions and have been for years. They are relatively easy to make and I’m a firm believer of the simpler the better, always. What You’ll Need:- Organic cotton mesh cloth or hemp cloth also works fine as well- @ifyoucare_usa Twine or cotton string - @nowfoodsofficial Essential Oils (For a bath, I like to choose lavender and rosemary) - Dried Lavender, - Rose Petals  (feel free to also add dried lemongrass and dried peppermint - @celticseasalt Epsom Salt - @organictraditions Coconut Oil How To: 1. Cut a 7x7 “ inch square with the fabric.2. Take 1 cup of epsom salt and add it to the center.3. Mix in the dried rose and lavender flowers.4. Drop 10 drops of lavender essential oil onto the salt and dried flowers.5. Drop 5 drops of rosemary essential oil to the sale and dried flowers.6. Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil onto the mixture.7. Take the 4 corners of the fabric and wrap the edges.8. Bunch the excess fabric up in your fist with one hand and take the piece of string and wrap the string around the fabric. Benefits:* Rosewater relieves inflammation/ soothes irritated skin, brightens your complexion, tightens pores and smells amazing* Rosemary stimulates circulation, will help relieve muscle aches/soreness, has been shown to boost memory and clear congestion simply by being inhaled* Lavender works as a “anxiolytic” (anxiety reliever) it calms the nerves, reduces anxiety/aggression/depression and does wonders for the skin* Epsom Salts contain magnesium which also help to relax and soothe muscles. Salt water in general is super healing, good for energy cleansing I am against most bath bombs because they contain artificial fragrances, artificial perfume and or scented ingredients that do not offer any health benefits. These artificial compounds are harmful to our health, waterways and wreak havoc once absorbed. Bath bombs look great but majority of them are full of toxins and allergens Dedicating one hour from your weekend to invest in yourself will refuel you! Try this simple bath infusion today!   Follow along with Healthy Planet as we collaborate with Stephanie Wong bringing you everything from Cruelty Free Beauty to All--Natural Living Tips! Written and Created by @5teffy

Each day we are confronted by harmful toxins in the air we breathe, the food and water we consume, and even in the products we use every day to make our lives more convenient. Over time, those toxins can build up in the body and impact our overall health. For this reason, many health experts recommend regular internal cleansing to help the body more efficiently eliminate toxins and waste. While there are plenty of herbal cleansing formulas to choose from, beginners may benefit from a total-body formula designed for first-time cleansers. Such a program will typically last about two weeks and include gentler whole herbs to provide natural support for each of the body’s elimination organs—including the kidneys, liver, lymphatic system, and bowel (or colon). After that, you may wish to move on to a more advanced cleanse. These can last up to a month and will often contain deep-cleansing herbal extracts to support detoxification and help restore digestive regularity. Helpful Tips to Remember During any type of cleanse, remember that your goal is to support your detoxification processes while helping your body maintain a healthy balance of nutrients. Your daily diet should provide support for your organs of elimination as well as overall nourishment for your body, which is why choosing the right foods while cleansing is also important. Below are some quick tips to help you get started:  Eat plenty of “living foods” such as raw, organic fruits and veggies (veggies may also be lightly steamed) in addition to fermented foods that contain beneficial probiotic cultures such as yogurt, kefir, miso and/or tempeh. Choose lean protein sources such as organic, natural, or free-range chicken, turkey, beef, fish, tofu, and eggs. Consume essential fatty acids such as the beneficial Omega-3 fats found in oily fish and certain nuts and seeds. Opt for well-cooked grains from sources such as millet, buckwheat, khorasan wheat, amaranth, quinoa, spelt, teff, rye, basmati rice, wild rice, and brown rice—all of which provide an excellent source of fibre while cleansing. Drink plenty of purified water to help to flush unwanted toxins and waste from the body. A good rule of thumb is to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of purified water every day. Try to limit your consumption of sugar (both table sugar and hidden refined sugars) and starchy carbohydrates, which may feed unhealthy microbes in the gut.