DIY Green Cleaning Products

Today's environment is full of chemicals that are known carcinogens, which are linked to health problems such as breast cancer. Stores offer an array of household cleaning products that contain health-damaging chemicals. But our home is one place where we can control exposure to chemicals. Have you wanted to cut down on chemicals in your house by making your own cleaning products? This week we're privileged to have a guest post by Jennie Zraick whose done a complete make-over in her cleaning products.

One of my goals this past spring was to implement the use of homemade cleaners. They have less chemicals and cost pennies compared to commercial brands. Follow my Do-It-Yourself (DIY) recipes to make your own.

General Cleaning
A friend who sells essential oils got me some Thieves Household Cleaner concentrate. Love it! No getting high while cleaning the shower plus leaves a nice scent in the kitchen and other rooms. Otherwise, I use baking soda for cleaning. I purchased a Parmesan cheese shaker for the baking soda, making it a little easier to sprinkle on surfaces than using a scoop.

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Wisdom Wednesday

Tip:
Vitamin D is essential to your health so make sure you're getting enough. The sun is a great source for vitamin D, but if you lather on sunscreen to go outside you're not going to get any vitamin D. Fungus to the rescue. Yes, mushrooms are a great source for vitamin D. Slice up some mushrooms and add them next time you have a salad or cook up some veggies. Other sources include cold-water fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, tuna and sardines.

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Vegetarian Mexican Pasole Soup Recipe

If you've been afraid to go raw or vegan, this recipe just might convince you to take the leap. You might discover you're missing out on the rich flavors of simple spices and yummy taste of fresh vegetables. This Pasole recipe is missing the meat, but no flavor lacking here.

This recipe came from a raw food class I took with my friend Jennie Zraick, an avid fan of HJC. Becky at Whole Foods Market in Roseville in the Sacramento area teaches raw food cooking on a regular schedule. She wows the attendees with her vast knowledge of the health benefits of foods while she's chopping and blending her creations.

I made a huge batch and brought it to a Labor Day BBQ and it was a hit. I sent leftovers home with eager takers with a promise to post it soon. So here you go!

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Wisdom Wednesday

Tip: 
Try chia seeds for a nutritional boost. Rich in iron, fiber, calcium, omega-3 fat and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), these little black seeds swell up in water and when consumed provide hydration. Add 1 Tbsp of ground chia seeds to 3 Tbsp of water to replace eggs in recipes. Add chia seeds to your veggie smoothie. Sprinkle it on your salad. Add it to oatmeal. Even bake it in your favorite cookie. You'll enjoy lower blood pressure, reduced inflammation and improved blood sugar regulation. Not bad for a little seed that some used to plaster onto animal-shaped clay.

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Mothers Across America March to Label GMOs

The day we celebrate our county's Freedom is the day we turn the tide. Tomorrow, at over 169 parades, thousands of moms are marching in hometown parades with Moms Across America. The Moms Across America March (MAAM) will connect with millions of our neighbors and community members who have never heard of GMOs, as smiling faces, festive cheer and patriotic gear deliver the message: Label GMOs. Parade viewers will wonder... And when they wonder they will be open to finding out more.

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Benefits of Kombucha Tea

I've been learning so much about bacteria in our bodies—how important it is to our health and ways to get more good bacteria into our system. In What's the Scoop on Probiotics and Prebiotics? I mentioned Kombucha tea as a great way to enrich your microbiome. That post followed What's Bugging You?—a serious discussion about the state of an unhealthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract due to an imbalance of good vs bad bacteria.

Kombucha is a fermented tea consumed for over 2000 years all around the world. It has been extensively studied and applied to several medical issues in Russia, Germany, China and other places. Many make their own Kombucha tea, but I'm happy to see it offered in the grocery stores by several companies. Its natural carbonation makes it a refreshing drink and perfect replacement for sugar-laden soft drinks that can ravage your health.

Why is drinking Kombucha tea, an all natural health beverage teeming with healthy bacteria and amino acids, a good thing? There are a host of healing properties* attributed to Kombucha tea:

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Sweet & Sour Veggies

I've made this yummy dish twice now, tweaking it to perfection. As per my menu requirements, it's very quick and easy to make.

You may have seen that I use Bragg Liquid Aminos instead of soy sauce in my recipes. Reasons include no added salt or preservatives, and the soy beans used are certified non-GMO. Learn more about the benefits of Bragg Liquid Aminos here.

You may have trouble finding an apricot preserve with no added sugar. Here's one I found at Whole Foods. St. Dalfour from France. Made from 100% fruit. I avoid added sugar like the plague to keep my body slightly alkaline. But you may opt for a preserve that has some added cane sugar. St. Dalfour uses grape or apple concentrates to moderate the sweetness of their preserve. I know it's all still sugar (fructose), but I stay away from the processed sugar.

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Giveaway & Movie Review

Movie Review
Joe Cross had a successful career and everything going for him... except his weight had ballooned, his cholesterol was heading higher and he had chronic nagging illnesses that required medication. Could be almost anybody in America today. Even children are experiencing theses issues at an alarming rate.

Originally debuting in 2011, the documentary Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead follows Joe on a trek across America. Accompanying him on the journey was a juicer for prepping the vegetables and fruit he consumed as his only food for 60 days. Encountering people "on the street" along his way, he proudly drank his liquid meals while highlighting the typical processed food that most ate.

If it isn't enough to witness the whittling down of Joe before our eyes in the film, wait until Joe meets Phil, a truck driver with the same autoimmune disease, and begins to help him turn his health around. At 420 pounds, Phil's story becomes the emotional grabber of the movie. You will not believe the transformation that occurs. The movie leaves you with a sense of hope, wellness, friendship and our ability to change.

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Kid-Friendly Persian Cucumber, Tomato and Green Apple Salad

This is a great kid-friendly salad. Doing my usual lunch salad prep, I found what I threw together pretty tasty. Of course... I think that about all my salads. Veggie salads are my favorite food. Seriously! But you may find your kids think it's yummy too.

For kids, I would leave out my recommended spice blend due to the amount of pepper, which kids may find too hot. Use only dressing and a dash of sea salt to finish it off for the little ones. They should find the sweet and tart of the apple appealing. Let them know the salad will make them grow tall and strong. Forget telling them it's healthy for them—that's not relative in their young minds. For more tips on getting your kids to eat healthy, read 11 Proven Ways to Get Kids to Eat More Vegetables.

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