My Dirty Little Secret ;)

Want to know my dirty little secret??

I haven't worn deodorant in over a month.

Yep, you read that right...

and guess what?

I don't smell!

You can ask my students, third graders are brutally honest.
Seriously, I do not smell.

Before I tell you my solution, I must explain why I am SO excited about this....
A few years ago, in the beginning of my wellness journey my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Within my research I discovered that aluminum in antiperspirant has been linked to cancer. Having a long history of cancer in my family (who doesn't?), particularly breast cancer, I decided that my Dove antiperspirant deodorant was not worth the risk. Dove protected me through many, many years from stinky hormones in puberty, high school, and college. It wasn't an easy breakup, but I knew it was worth it....

It is natural for us to sweat, it is our body's natural cooling system. Think about that- why are we using chemicals to keep ourselves from sweating? It is just not worth the risk.

(Side-note: I may or may not have lost friends on this journey to find the right deodorant! ;) )

I have tried almost every single natural deodorant on the shelves. There are some that I like better than others, but none of them kept me stinky free as long as these common household items do. I have spent tons of money on deodorant, just to store them in my pantry, and eventually throw them away. When all along the most natural solutions were sitting in my kitchen and being used multiple times a day....

Coconut oil and baking soda.

It's super easy and cheap. All you need is a bottle of coconut oil (yes you can use coconut oil for everything-- $10) and baking soda ($2.50).

Then, create a paste by using approximately 1/2 tbs. of coconut oil with 1/2 tbs. of baking soda. Rub it together in your hands until the coconut oil is liquid and simply apply to your armpits. Rinse your hands off and get ready to take on your day in a healthy, not stinky way!

You may need to adjust the amount of baking soda you use-- the more you use, the more protection you will have.

Try it out and let me know what you think in the comments below! :)

Love, light, and a healthy (non stinky ;) ) body <3
A

Have you jumped on the Lemon Water bandwagon yet? Here are my thoughts...

As I sit here to write my first blog post in a long time (cut me some slack- it's been a busy year!),
I take a sip of a hot mug of lemon water, with a few dashes of cayenne pepper, and sweetened with stevia, and I think to myself: What should I write about?

Then I get a text from a client who is having digestive issues. She isn't the first one this week to ask me for advice on how to get her pumps, well, pumping...

We have all been there, especially this time of year where it is dark and cold. We may not be eating as well or as frequently as we should be. So our bodies stop pumping, and instead hold onto waste. Causing your waist to budge with terrible discomfort.

Now, I have quite a few tricks up my sleeves being a IBS recoverer (who knew there was such a thing?)... but my favorite trick of all, which we can ALL incorporate into our daily lives (even if your pumps are always flowing) is a hot cup of lemon water, with an added bump of the spicy cayenne pepper, and a little sweet touch of stevia.

Who doesn't want to sip on something warm when it is single digit temperatures outside and the wind is whipping so hard that it makes you wonder, "why the hell did I buy a house in New Jersey?" At least that's my thought.... Added bonus-- it keeps you warm! So warm that you may even start to believe you are living in the Virgin Islands.. Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration- but sounds nice, doesn't it?

I am sure you have seen in the magazines, on Dr. Oz, Jennifer Anniston swears by it (and who doesn't want to look like her?),  everyone  is swearing off their cup of coffee for lemon water.
Guilty...
However, I was doing it before it was a trend-- and yes it did help me kick my horrendous pot-a-day coffee addiction.

So here are a few more reasons why I love, love, love this drink, and why I have suggested all my constipated and non constipated clients and friends drink it:

1.) It detoxifies-- this goes along with the constipation problem (see above). But seriously, lemon water will help flush out toxins and waste. Drink it first thing in the a.m., before that P90X workout. I mean, it sucksssss to workout when clogged up.

2.) It wakes you up and energizes you (all hours of the day). Six a.m. workout- you got this! Three p.m. slump-- get that water brewing, and start squeezing!

3.) Immunity-- Bring it, Flu Season! This drink is LOADED with vitamins-- particularly vitamin C.
In addition, it has calcium, potassium, magnesium, and pectin fiber along with antibacterial properties which will keep you healthy all winter long.

4.) It will help you kick that exhausting caffeine addiction and save money from not having to buy coffee and tea. (see #2 ;) )

5.) Suppresses hunger AND helps you lose weight. Enough said, this should have been #1...

6.) You will look younger-- that's a result of hydration, and vitamin C. It nourishes from within-- leaving you with a gorgeous glow. Less wrinkles, less pimples, beau-ti-ful! (if only real food had commercials....)

7.) Helps ease aches by dissolving uric acid which helps with inflammation, all while replenishing body salts to help with those sore muscles from that kick ass workout you completed this morning.

8.) With that advernturous dash of cayenne pepper, you intensify all of the benefits from the lemon: Detoxifying, energizing, antibacterial, anti-fungal, immunizes, digestion and weigh-loss booster. The list goes on and you get so much more bang for your buck.

Try it, and then let me know what you think in the comments below!

Love & Health (....and happy excretion ;) )
A