Archives for December 2018

Clean Your Fruits & Vegetables Properly With These 4 Tips

December 18, 2018 By Essential Oxygen

Guest Post By: Luna Regina

Reasons to clean fruits and vegetables properly

To Consume Raw Fruits & Veggies

Most fruits and vegetables are best to be consumed as they are, as lush and fresh as possible. Not only can they be made into delicious healthy treats like smoothies or salads, but it is also because of the number of nutrients fully reserved. Most cooking methods involve heat and despite being effective in eradicating bacteria, they also destroy nutrients present in fruits and vegetables.

There are also opinions claiming removing the skin to be a good option. Well … that’s a good one indeed, but not the best. Some fruits or vegetables have edible skin, a few of which even contain lots of vitamins (apple skin for example) and therefore should not be thrown away. To those with inedible skins, it’s inevitable that you will contaminate their flesh with either bacteria or pesticides remains on their skins during the food processing progress.

To Remove Pesticides Residue

Even when eating raw fruits doesn’t suit your taste, As mentioned earlier, there are still residues of indigestible chemical substances and unfortunately, cooking won’t entirely eliminate these.

pesticide reside clean food grade hydrogen peroxide

California,USA

Therefore, to consume raw fruits and vegetables safely, properly washing is not a considerable option, but rather, a must.

Effective Tips to Clean Your Fruits and Veggies

Tap water doesn’t remove all toxic substances and bacteria present. If it is not enough to wash your hands with just plain water, it is also not enough to wash what you consume in the same way. For a healthier lifestyle, I strongly recommend you to follow these tips.

Tip #1: Make sure your tap water is clean

“What’s wrong with tap water? The government takes care of it, so of course, it’s safe to drink.” – me in 2014. However, things aren’t that simple.

Our water source lies mainly underground, and it is toxic waste from factories that eventually infiltrates into the soil and contaminates the water. Therefore, purifying water is an extremely difficult progress because it takes a lot of steps to remove indigestible substances and bacteria while keeping water safe to drink.

Here’s what might be in your tap water:

Disinfectants (chlorine, chloramine, fluoride)
Hormones, pharmaceuticals
Microorganisms, which include Giardia, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Legionella
Inorganic materials such as phosphorus, sulfur, cyanide, asbestos, mercury
Volatile organic materials (VOCs) like styrene, benzene, and other carcinogens

While the best is being done by authorities to make tap water safer, why not protect yourself first? Water filters are now available, conveniently installed under your sink and filter out all impurities within tap water. Regarding the best under sink water filter systems, have a look into this review made by Healthy Kitchen 101.

Tip #2: Soak your fruits and vegetables in a proper solution

Having clean water is one step to make, but cleaning fruits and vegetables takes more than just that. It’s important that all of them are soaked in clean water mixed with a special cleaning agent for about 5 minutes.

Salt and baking soda are two among possible cleaning agents. Salt is commonly known for its antibacterial property, while baking soda is reported to be super effective in removing pesticides. Simply soak your vegetables with clean water, and stir in several teaspoons of baking soda, or salt, or both. Personally, these are my favorites as they’re always available around my kitchen, thus super cheap!

Tip #3: Know your veggies

Vegetables and fruits are diverse in shapes and sizes, and so are the methods in which they are washed.

The key is to make sure all spots on your vegetables are revealed and exposed to your veggie cleaning solution. If you’re leaving lettuce leaves “lingering” each other, all pesticides residue in hidden spots might not get washed off completely. Water can sure reach these spots, but a good rub raises the chance of getting all those toxins off. Although, broccoli and cauliflower would appreciate a gentle rub rather than a hard one..

Tip #4: Keep your cutting boards and knives clean!

Of course, these have to be clean because they WILL touch your food A LOT of times!

There are various kinds of cutting boards out there regarding the materials used to make them. Although easy to wash, glass, steel or cutting boards made of harder materials can easily dent or even chip knife edges.

Wooden and plastic boards are the most common among all, and they are also the friendliest to knives. However, the more they are used the more cuts they have, and bacteria thrive within these cuts, especially if they are regularly exposed to meat, fish or any sort of proteins. Dish soaps don’t usually reach these spots.

The best solution is to spray these cutting boards with a cleaning solution that could be easily washed off with water when needed, and 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide is the perfect candidate. After cleaning your board with soap, grab the bottle and make a few puffs. The solution should eventually steep into the cracks and have those bacteria eliminated.

Knives are easier to clean. There’s no hidden spots that dish soap can’t reach. One wipe and all bacteria are gone.

It’s the knife blocks that we all must pay close attention to. When knives aren’t cleaned properly, bacteria might migrate into these slots and build their own community, contaminating knives before each use later on. Therefore, it’s best to spray your knives with the Hydrogen Peroxide liquid after washing so no bacterium gets near your knives while they’re in storage.

7 Ways to Help You Beat Jet Lag

December 17, 2018 By Essential Oxygen

Guest Post: Global Journeys

No one wants to sacrifice the first day or two of their holidays to jet lag. With limited time, you want to hit the ground running and start exploring rather than begrudgingly dragging yourself around feeling fatigued and frustrated. However, after a long flight (or three!) across multiple time zones, it is normal to feel anything but normal. The good news is, there are some things you can do to lessen the effects of jet lag. Here are some of them.

Plan for your flight

There are plenty of factors that come into play when booking your flights. Price, flight time, airline preferences, frequent flyer programs, and whether to choose the aisle or the window. Choosing flight times that help with your transition into a different time zone can also provide some relief from jet lag. For example, choosing an itinerary that has you waking up in your destination in the morning can help with the adjustment, particularly if you are an in-flight sleeper. Or, think about arriving at night so you can sleep and awake refreshed to start the new day if you are not. There are also some aircrafts that have advanced systems to control humidity and lighting to curtail the impacts of jet lag.

Set your watch

While planning your flight schedule to suit your destination’s time zone can help, chances are your body is still going to be pretty confused. A great way to get a head start on resetting your body clock is to initiate the adjustment early. Before leaving home, set your watch to the time in your destination, and start to work your inflight sleep pattern (where possible) around it. Don’t forget to keep a clock with the current time on you though so you can keep track of your flights and transit times!

Add a stopover

Breaking up a long journey can help you arrive at your ultimate destination feeling more refreshed. Not only does it let you catch up on some rest en route, but it allows your body to adjust more gradually. Adding a stopover will give you a chance to catch up along the way, adapting to a time zone in between your origin and destination meaning that you (and your body clock!) can take it one step at a time making the transition easier and less disruptive.

Stay hydrated

It is easy to lose track of your fluid intake as you travel – your routine is disrupted, and your habits can be thrown completely. It is important to keep drinking water and stay hydrated to help overcome jet lag and that sense of fatigue that many people get when travelling long haul. Pack a reusable bottle in your carryon luggage and steer clear of things that will dehydrate you further, such as coffee and alcohol.

Hold out for night time

So, you’ve arrived a little bedraggled after 30 hours of travel, tentatively propping open your eyelids with your forefinger. If you’ve arrived in the daytime your first instinct may be to draw the blinds and hit the pillow hard. Don’t! Fight against every sleepy fibre of your being and force yourself to stay up during the day. Hopefully exploring until nightfall will tire you out enough to sleep through the first night on your new time – then bingo! If you just can’t, set your alarm then allow yourself a short nap, but when the alarm goes off don’t hit snooze or you’ll likely struggle to get to sleep when night time truly falls.

Catch some rays

If you’re not up for sightseeing on arrival, it is still important to get outdoors. Go for a gentle walk or a swim. Perhaps make yourself at home in a terrace café, soaking up the sunshine and watching the world go by. Melatonin levels help regulate your body clock, and the secretion of melatonin is influenced by the body’s exposure to light and dark. A great way to tell your body that day and night has flipped is to get outside and catch some rays, bringing your body’s hormones into line quicker. It’s also good to limit the use of electronics at night, as the blue light from screens can manipulate your body’s melatonin production and confuse your body further.

Give yourself time

Taking these steps can assist in curbing the effects of jet lag and travel fatigue, however, rarely will you have no symptoms at all (unless you’re one of the lucky ones!). If you have the time, it is good to allow a couple of days at the start of your holiday to take things a little easy. If you are joining a tour or river cruise, arriving early means you will be able to rest a little and find your feet in your new destination (and time zone) before your itinerary kicks off. If you are taking an independent journey then avoid planning too many activities for the first day or two – save your highlight activities for a few days into the journey when you are feeling up to really enjoying them. Taking some extra time out to adjust not only helps your body recuperate but gives you a little ‘me’ time – you are on holidays after all!

About Global Journeys

Global Journeys is an Online Travel Agency based in Noosa, Queensland, Australia that offers multi-day tours, cruises and river cruises. With a dedicated team of travel consultants and leading technology, Global Journeys partners with the world’s best travel operators to offer their clients over 5,000 trips to choose from worldwide.

Website: https://www.globaljourneys.com/

General Enquiries: [email protected]

Media Contact: Barb Durance – PR & Marketing Manager

Media Contact:

Barb Durance – PR & Marketing Manager, (07) 5474 8003

8 Eco-Friendly Holiday Gifts Everyone Will Love

December 15, 2018 By Essential Oxygen

By: Emmi Buck

Idosole ~ Vegan, Up-cycled Shoes On A Mission To Stop Tire Pollution

https://indosole.com/

$27 – $75

These handcrafted, stylish, durable shoes haves SOUL… and soles made from recycled tires, which are a major problem in many countries, like Indonesia where they are made with love. Indosole’s founder Kyle Parsons has been featured on TED talks promoting the importance of upcycling materials that end up crowing our beautiful natural landscape and landfills. An avid surfer, Kyle wanted to find a way to create beautiful and useful products out of materials that can end up polluting our environment and frequently works with nonprofits focused on protecting our oceans. Indosole is a certified B-Corp that makes shoes that everyone will love, and with every step will be protecting the future of our planet!

Bamboo Roots ~ Reusable & Biodegradable Straws

https://bamboorootseco.com

$15.45 for a pack of 12 w/ a cleaner

A great gift for anyone who drinks liquids (hint: everyone!), these aren’t your typical stainless steel or glass straws, they’re biodegradable and made from a very renewable resource – bamboo! In the U.S. alone, over 500 MILLION plastic drinking straws are used PER DAY. That’s enough plastic waste to wrap the entire circumference of the earth two and a half times, yikes! By using these reusable, biodegradable, plant based drinking straws you are helping the environment by reducing plastic waste. This gift will help protect our oceans and the environment as a whole.

Essential Oxygen ~ Organic Oral Care & All-Purpose 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide

https://essentialoxygen.com/

$4.89 – $25.63

Essential Oxygen is a woman-owned, triple bottom line company that sees this planet and its people beaming with optimal health and promotes this vision by creating truly effective and clean natural products. Their Organic Brushing Rinse can be used as a liquid toothpaste, mouthwash, or pre-rinse. It whiten teeth, is non-abrasive (great for sensitive teeth), freshens breath, and works to give who whole-mouth-health. The best part? It is biodegradable and has no fluoride, SLS, alcohol, parabens, or toxins – just all-natural and easy to pronounce ingredients! Their 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide cleans cutting boards + utensils, removes stains without bleaching, can be used to brush your dog’s teeth, and SO much more. It has none of the chemical stabilizers found in brown bottle non-food-grade hydrogen peroxide, and is at a safe to use 3% level, unlike the potentially dangerous 35%!

Holy Lamb Organics ~ Zero Waste Organic Bedding

https://www.holylamborganics.com/

$25 – $1,700

From mattresses to bedding to pillows and even towels, Holy Lamb organics is dedicated to creating beautiful, zero waste, sustainable, and most importantly comfortable products. They make their items by hand, locally, in a small rural town near Olympia, WA. In business since 2000, their bedding line is featured in over 80 stores across the US and Canada. All of their products come in stylish, simple colors and would work well for any color palate. They even have baby products!

Kloverbox ~ Eco-Friendly, Cruelty-Free, Non-Toxic Monthly Box Subscription

https://www.kloverbox.com/

$25 / month

Receive eco-friendly products handpicked by their healthy conscious curators. Best of all, each lifestyle, home, and beauty product is cruelty-free! This woman-owned company was started by twins Lora and Marie, who as moms, strive to keep their children safe and healthy. They feel a great way to do this is to keep their homes safe from as many harmful chemicals as possible, and keep themselves and their families healthy by finding natural alternatives to everyday products. Kloverbox makes it easy for you to discover great brands and live a healthier, natural, organic, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly lifestyle.

Etee ~ Reusable, Biodegradable, Beeswax Food Wraps

https://www.shopetee.com/

$18 for a three-pack

Say goodbye to plastic! Etee wraps are a natural, better way to store your food and reduce plastic waste. They’re organic, reusable, and biodegradable. They use USDA organic beeswax, clove & cinnamon essential oils and jojoba oil, coniferous tree resins from sustainable sources & non gmo soy wax, and GOTS certified organic cotton.

Drynk On ~ Stainless Steel Reusable Drinkware & Straws

https://drynkon.com

$17.99-$25.99

With every sip you can smile knowing you’re saving a plastic straw and one-time use cup from polluting our planet! At Drynk On, they believe every little bit counts. Their commitment to reducing waste by helping eliminate single-use plastic cups and straws is a step in saving our only home. They we offer double-walled, insulated stainless steel tumblers both in stemless and with-stem styles, along with stainless steel straws. Their drinkware comes in a large assortment of styles and awesome color options for any of your friends or family.

Santosha ~ Organic, Raw Cacao, Paleo, Vegan, Allergen-Friendly Chocolate

https://santoshachocolate.com/

$3.50 per bar

Who doesn’t love chocolate?! All Santosha chocolate bars are paleo,vegan, certified organic, gluten free, and free of: soy, nuts, emulsifiers, fillers, and cane sugar. Their recipes integrate scientific research with wisdom of traditional medicines to offer nutritional properties that fuel your body mind and spirit. All Santosha chocolate is hand made from Peruvian cacao beans stone-ground. These heirloom variety cacao beans from Peru make up less than 5% of the worlds cacao production. Their process preserves the living enzymes and micro-nutrients of the cacao bean. Last but not least, their chocolate is wrapped by hand with love in recycled packaging and printed with vegetable-based inks.

Discover Valencia: The City of Joy and Memories

December 12, 2018 By Essential Oxygen

Guest Post By: Goran Kezić

The real question on everyone’s minds is who cross travels across the Mediterranean coast these days? How come the third largest city in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona isn’t overrun by tourists? The residents of this magnificent city welcome anyone who seeks to uncover the charms of its coastal hot spots.

With an immodest touch of its truly breathtaking architecture, unique food taste, and classy nightclubs, this captivating Spanish pearl is definitely a place you should pinpoint on your travel map.

The warm breeze and ever growing nightlife

It’s no surprise that more and more people from all around the world are ready to travel far and wide just to experience the glimpse of this city’s nightlife soul. Stag do getaways in Valencia, in particular, are teeming with blood-pumping activity and attracting bachelors eager to have pure unadulterated fun. Whatever your needs may be, it’s safe to say that you’ll be swept by famous Valencia’s never ending nights with beautiful Spanish girls close to your side.

Breathtaking open-air clubs are somewhat a trend these days but let us not forget the famous beach clubs and other festivities you simply can’t miss during the night. All across the city center and down to sandy beaches you will stumble upon an opportunity to party hard and long into the night. It comes with no surprise that so many travel magazines title Valencia as new Mediterranean party leader, surpassing even Ibiza in many ways!

A unique mixture of modern architecture and Art Nouveau

As you might have guessed, Valencia is packed with stunning architecture! From the Romanesque style and its Golden age of Medieval development to Art Nouveau Gargoyles that protect the city with their watchful eye, this city will leave no one indifferent. Located in the City Center, The City of Arts and Sciences better known as L’ Hemisferic is one of the most famous sites of modern European architecture. This picturesque sunken park is definitely a “must-see” attraction you will encounter along your Valencia adventure.

Not far from L’Hemisferic lies The Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas better known as Rococo Nobility palace. Many art critics claim that this building is a proud owner of the world’s most beautiful gate with its out-of-this-world ornamentation. Further downtown you will find L’Oceanogràfic, and oceanarium situated in the east of the city of Valencia.

Not only does it feature 500 marine species ranging from whales to sea urchins, but it also offers a slate of stellar adventures. This includes a day as an assistant dolphin trainer to a sleepover in the Tower of Sharks. Oh, and not to mention that you will have a chance to have a meal at the restaurant under water!

In conclusion

Whether you are a party animal, European architecture lover or simply a fan of exotic cuisine, this Spanish pearl will leave you speechless. With your camera full of reminiscences from this stunning trip you will remember the warm African breeze that hugged this city with each look. Like all great travels, you will surely spend your nights thinking how one day you will return again…

***Essential Oxygen Tip: Don’t forget to bring your travel sized Organic Brushing Rinse with you on your trip to keep your breath fresh and pearly white teeth sparkling!

What Natural Skincare Ingredients Are the Most Effective?

December 12, 2018 By Essential Oxygen

Guest Post By: Brigitte Evans

With so many new products on the market, sometimes we just don’t know where to turn. They all promise results, they all sound great, but which one of them can actually deliver? Luckily, the straightforward natural ingredients seem to be the most promising ones, which is really no surprise to anyone who knows even a little bit about old-fashioned botanical extracts. Are you eager to find out which of these nature’s gifts can benefit your skin the most? Well, we’re here to teach you. Check out some of the best ingredients to look for in your next skincare purchase!

Salicylic acid

Anyone who was ever plagued by blemishes has probably heard of salicylic acid. Found in willow bark, this oil soluble extract can penetrate deeply into your skin and rid it of excess sebum. It unclogs your pores and soothes away irritations, so if you’re looking for a clear, fresh complexion this is what you want to find on the label.

Tea tree oil

Source

Another great soldier in the never-ending war on acne, tea tree is the one thing most people swear by when it comes to dealing with breakouts. It’s a face oil that, surprisingly enough, won’t make your skin oily at all. It’s quite potent and can be drying if applied in excess, so it’s recommended that you dilute it a bit before use, especially if your skin isn’t used to it. You can do this by mixing it in with a little jojoba oil, and then dabbing tiny amounts of that on areas of your skin where you’re experiencing a breakout.

Rosehip oil

Rosehip oil is practically Mother Nature’s gift for any sort of skin pigmentation. It’s packed with fatty acids and vitamins C and E, and it’s actually one of the more effective oils when it comes to treating wrinkles. When it comes to skincare, it’s recommended over coconut and olive oil because it’s less likely to clog your pores, and you only need a few drops of it every night to make your skin soft.

Coconut and olive oil

Source

Now, we mentioned these might clog your pores, but we wish to clear it up a bit. When it comes to skincare, this general rule applies: each person is different. Your friend might get a break out from using a certain ingredient, while your own skin responds to it beautifully. Coconut and olive oil are incredibly nourishing and are still pretty great to be used on your body, hair, and nails, but they might work to moisturize your face as well. That’s why trial and error and simple patch tests are the best way to figure out whether an ingredient is good for you or not.

Hyaluronic acid

Hands down one of the best ingredients for pretty much any skin type. It can be found in your own skin and connective tissues, so it’s highly unlikely you’d ever get an allergic reaction to it or find it irritating. It’s supremely good at hydration, and if you find a good natural anti ageing skincare with hyaluronic acid to apply in the evening, your complexion will be plump, soft, and radiant. Look for light, gentle formulas because they’ll be able to penetrate your skin better, and don’t worry about using it even if your skin is oily – it’s non-comedogenic.

Green tea

You already know that drinking it is really good for your health, but did you know that green tea extract is really great in skincare as well? One of the fitness and beauty gurus’ favorite superfoods, it’s full of antioxidants that reduce inflammation and strengthen skin barrier, and it’s a welcome addition to anyone’s routine.

Acai berries

Another superfood on our list! This anti-aging powerhouse is full of nutrients, vitamins, and fatty acids that are great at keeping wrinkles away. Find a good eye cream with acai berries to smooth your complexion and you’ll be surprised at the results.

Clay

Source

If you need a deep, thorough cleanse, clay is the ingredient to turn to. One applied, it can pull out dirt and sebum from your pores and get rid of all the nasty stuff, leaving your skin clean, fresh, and ready to soak up other products. Bentonite clay is the most commonly used one if beauty products, but you can also benefit from rhassoul clay, kaolin clay, and French green clay.

It’s not a bad idea to do a skin detox at least occasionally. With the use of natural ingredients, you won’t have to use a ton of heavy products, and you can let these extracts simply rejuvenate you without weighing down your skin.

Top 5 Benefits Of Oil Massage Therapy

December 4, 2018 By Essential Oxygen

Guest Post By: Sara Rasheed

Oil massage therapies are the conventional method of relaxing. But nowadays they are the most advised treatment. Massage therapies usually have many benefits and some of them are for long term. Usually, massage therapies are done by massage center and spas. You can also appoint a massage therapist at home or office also.

There are many types of massage therapies like Swedish massage, deep massage, sports massage and trigger point massage etc. These massage therapies are done using different kinds of essential oils. Essential oils have gained huge popularity as they have stimulating, antibacterial, antiviral, antidepressant, detoxifying and calming properties. Moreover, they are a safe, cost-effective and natural method of treating pain. Essential oils offer amazing benefits not only for massage therapies but also for periodontal diseases. Read more about it here.

The details of their benefits are discussed below:

A cure for insomnia:

Insomnia is the problem faced by many who cannot sleep at night. The root of this problem is stress and anxiety. It can lead to sluggish days and even memory loss. A natural cure for this problem is suggested to be a regular massage therapy. All it requires is 10 to 20 minutes of your time before bed. Massage a few oil drops on your feet in a circular motion with your fingertips. It will help you sleep easily and its daily use can improve the results. Furthermore, massage is better than taking a pile of medicines for the cure.

Better for immune system:

Spending some time to relax during a massage therapy can be beneficial after your body has been engaged in some tough physical activity. Increasing the activity level can improve your immune system. Massage therapy helps in killing harmful cells naturally and eventually your body responds to against the bacteria. It can even help to cure a cold or flu. Sore throats can also be treated with oil massages and/or essential oils. It was a traditional method followed by our ancestors for many cures.

Circulation of blood:

Massage therapies help in the better circulation of blood in our bodies. For the patients who deal with high blood pressure are recommended to spend a few hours of the day in spas. It helps to manage the flow of blood all over the body. It gives surprising results for stiff and damaged muscles. The movements done in massage therapies help in improving the working of congested muscles that help the body to get rid of metabolic wastes.

The flexibility of joints:

The use of warm essential oils on joints can prove to be a natural pain-killer. These massages can increase the flexibility of joints by releasing joint stiffness. Connective tissues are relaxed by the slow motion of hand palms and few drops of essential oils. Knees are the most important joints that help in sitting, standing, walking, and running. Oil massage can ease knee pain without the use of painkillers.

Improving body posture:

While you are having pain in any part of the body like neck, shoulders, back, and knees; then it indicates that you have body posture problems. Bones, muscles, and joints can work perfectly if they are perfectly aligned in the body. Massage therapies can help you in maintaining the right body posture.

While many say precautions are better than medications; similarly, oil massage therapies are better than spending thousands on medications and treatments.

About the Author:

Sara is a psychologist by profession, and she loves massage therapies. She enjoys home-based work and traveling. She is obsessed with massage chair therapies and other relaxing techniques. She regularly writes blogs at Mymassagechairs.