Why Buy Milk? Make Your Own Almond Milk

If you are like me, I buy coconut milk or almond milk when I go get groceries. I use it for baking and mostly my smoothies! Over time, it adds up. I decided that making my own milk would be much more rewarding, healthier, and relaxing. I have had homemade almond milk before but I have never made it myself. It did take about 15 minutes but it is a great stress relief (when you're squeezing the milk out).

Vegan Macadamia Lace Cookies

It is time for some yummy cookies! These macadamia nut thin cookies are delicious and especially for being vegan. Try making them at home :) they are great for adding to ice cream for a nice crispy sweet treat or just enjoying on their own.

Keeping Track of Your Health and Fitness

It is hard to fall off the fitness and health wagon when you don't write it down. I find that I eat better and am more likely to work out when I have to jot it down. Why? This is because I physically see all the things I eat that day and I am more likely to want to write something healthy down so I eat a lot healthier. Read more for some tips on how to create a "Health and Fitness Journal".

Bentonite Clay for Health & Detoxification

Bentonite clay is a volcanic ash that has many uses and benefits. It is high in minerals and is very nourishing for the body internally and externally. The deposits of this amazing ash are located in Fort Benton, Wyoming. Hence, where the name "bentonite" came from. It was first recorded as being used in Mesopotamia, many thousands of years ago.

What makes it effective??

Bentonite clay has a high negative ionic charge. This is why it helps for detoxification in the body. The negative ions bind to positive ions in the body such as bacteria, pesticides, pathogens, and heavy metals. Negative ions are highly beneficial to our bodies. We are exposed to them when we are by oceans, forests, and waterfalls. They provide an overall feeling of well being and peace. When do you not feel nourished and refreshed at the beach?

Benefits of taking bentonite clay:
-cleanse the skin, liver, and colon
-helps to balance the beneficial bacteria in the colon
-adds strength to the immune system
-helps assimilate nutrients throughout the body
-remineralizes tissues and cells
-alkalizing
-protection from radiation

Bentonite clay has been shown to help:
-foot allergies
-arthritis
-cataracts
-diarrhea
-stomach ulcers
-acne
-anemia

How to use it:
-Mix 1-2 tsp of bentonite clay powder in 8-12oz of water. You want to drink it on an empty stomach. Take it for 3 days straight, then break for 4 days, and slowly decrease the amount of time you take a break from using it. This is to acclimate the body.

I have used bentonite clay as a mask on my face in order to pull toxins out of the skin and tissue. You just have to mix a little bit with some water or apple cider vinegar, and it really makes your skin shine! It is nice that it can be used internally or externally. It is a very versatile item to have! You can buy it in powder, gel, or pill, but try to obtain the powder if you can!

This post is written by Michael.
Adapted from: 
Bentonite Benefits

Being Involved in Your Community

As a past Community Services Advisors (or Resident Advisors) at my college, I find that being involved in your community very important. It helps you feel safe, get to know who is around you, feel active in events, and more!

Go Green! Cleaning Recipes

Michael and I recently got ourselves a little baby bird and strong cleaning fumes are extremely harmful for their poor little respiratory systems. I could only imagine what it does to them! But what could it do to us? Because of this, we have decided to transition into a more green and sustainable lifestyle, starting with our cleaning products. Below are recipes for an all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, and a bar that will suck the stink from your trash!

Healing Wounds: The Natural Way

There are many easy to use home remedies that can help in times of need when you accidentally injure, cut yourself, or need some healing. You may not always have access to the items I am going to post, but it is good to know just in case. It is also good to have some of these items in a first aid kit just in case. Plants and herbs have been used to heal people for thousands of years, but recently we have turned towards man made chemical products to help out. I am not trying to say that they aren't effective, but if there is a natural way, it is always better for you and your body overall. Try these natural remedies out these simple remedies and see how they work for you ;)

Aloe vera gel - use on cuts, wounds and scrapes of all kinds. very soothing! can also be mixed with water and used internally to cleanse

Essential oils - lavender, chamomile, and tea trea oils are highly effective and are good for burns, cuts, and any rashes you may have. Make sure you buy 100% essential oil to make sure no chemicals are used and that it isn't diluted!

Witch hazel - perfect for sunburns, or as an aftershave! Has a very soothing scent :)

Cayenne pepper - powdered cayenne can stop bleeding if you dust your wound with it. Just don't eat too much, because it is very spicy

Honey - great for treating burns, but also wonderful for...

Amputations

Bedsores

Leg ulcers (diabetic foot and leg ulcers, varicose ulcers, leprosy ulcers, sickle cell ulcers, et cetera.)

Malignant ulcers

Fistulas

Cracked nipples

Surgical wounds

Gunshot and trauma-induced wounds, including those to the skull and abdomen

Cuts, abrasions, and puncture wounds

Black Pepper - effective at stopping bleeding

Apple Cider Vinegar - great for cleaning all wounds. good to combine with honey and cayenne pepper as well

Echinacea - helps to speed up the healing of wounds

Marigold - great stimulator for producing new tissue and helping progress healing



This post is written by Michael.
Adapted from: 
Annies Remedy
Honey Remedies