FLUORIDE

For the past few weeks at Uni we've been studying macro minerals and trace minerals as part of our nutrition subject. One of the trace minerals we covered this week was Fluoride. We probably all associate fluoride with healthy teeth and believe its a highly necessary mineral. Interestingly, fluoride isn't considered an essential trace mineral but rather is of benefit. This video highlights some very valid points. Australia, along with the USA fluoridates its water supply, despite the mineral not even being essential to our health. Over 70% of Australia's water supply is fluoridated. The research doesn't diminish the benefits of fluoride applied topically to teeth but it is increasingly highlighting the potentially serious, adverse effects of internally consuming fluoride- such as in drinking water.
What is also tricky, is that many water filters and purifiers also contain/add fluoride. This was all rather confronting information for me! I don't have any answers but I would rather get amongst this issue then avoid it. Have a watch x

For an overview of the scientific literature on the health effects of fluoride - you can find out more HERE

LOOKBOOK COOKBOOK

Vegan, sugar free and dairy free goes indie. If you like fashion and also food then you'll (maybe) like Lookbook Cookbook. It was set up by Jessica Millian who is apparently a rather prominent US fashion photographer. The site is jammed full of sweet treats. Think peanut butter fudge, chocolate almond bark and maple pecan pie. Every recipe is accompanied with a hot chick wearing something cute and posing with the given creation. What more could a hipster ask for. 

I FORGOT MY PHONE

I stumbled across this last week. Watch it. I instantly could relate to it and Im pretty sure most of us could. Its a strikingly crude reminder of just how crazy our phone obsessions are.

I always find myself default reaching for my phone. So lame. I catch the train every day and Ive started noticing that the first thing people do when they sit down is get out their phone and seemingly immerse themselves in the important business of 'Dont- talk- to- me- I'm- on- my- phone'. There's so many times Matt and I will be dating or watching a movie together but be on our phones at the same time- one stimulation isn't enough anymore! Well, I for one am putting my foot down (as best I can). Phones are great and helpful but I'm not keen to miss out on life and people for the sake of a silly little screen. You only live once, let's not waste it on our bloody phones. x

LEMON & COCONUT BLISS BALLS

I love bliss balls, cookie balls, protein balls, whatever you like to call them. They usually take about 5 minutes to make, everything gets chucked in the food processor -  roll and refrigerate and eat. So hard to muck up. I normally make weekly batches and take them to uni to keep me from eating the desk during the 3 hour long classes.  yes, 3 hours long. I love chocolate bliss balls with dates and coconut oil & nuts but I've recently been enjoying lemon and coconut ones. Lemon + coconut is actually the most tasty flavour combination and a nice change from chocolate. A little less heavy.

LEMON + COCONUT BLISS BALLS

+  1/2 cup shredded coconut
+  1 cup almond meal
+  4 tbsp melted coconut oil
+  3 tbsp rice malt syrup/ honey
+  juice & zest of 1 lemon
+  tsp of vanilla essence (optional)

Chuck everything in the food processor and blend. Adjust to taste- adding more rice malt syrup or honey if desired. Roll into balls. Then roll in shredded coconut or sesame seeds. Pop in fridge to firm up. * I havent tried freezing these balls but they could be delicious enjoyed frozen! :)

Drink with tea or anything that makes you happy x

SUKIN SKINCARE

I have always been a big fan of Sukin skincare. They are an Australian based organic, vegan, skincare range. I've used their cleanser and moisturiser for a few years and last week they had a competition on Instagram to win $100 worth of their products from their online store and I was lucky enough to win! I never win anything! I feel like everyone says that but it's true. Last thing I remember winning was a mcdonalds colouring in competition when I was 7- so naturally I was extremely chuffed with this winning prize upgrade.

One of the most wonderful things about Sukin is how affordable their products are. For 100 bucks, I managed to score six products which is nuts. Since skin is the largest organ of the body (everyone forgets that!) it's so important we look after it instead of suffocating it with toxic junk which makes up most commercial skincare..
Sukin stuff all has
- no sulphates
- no proplyene glycol
- no artificial colours
- no parabens
- no artificial fragrances
- no animal derivatives
- no triethanolamine

In other words... just all the good stuff. The stuff a normal human being can read on a label without requiring a chemistry degree to understand it. Think Aloe Leaf juice, Vitamin E, Rosehip oil, Lemon myrtle. Food for your skin. And all for under $20 for nearly all their products- which is pretty unheard of in 'stuff-thats-really-good-for-you' world. A moisturiser will set you back about $8.95. Pennies!

Anyway, my favourite products I've tried so far from this little treasure bundle have been the night moisturiser, rosehip oil and clay face mask. I get hectic dry skin in winter... the adventures that come with having an auto immune condition also mean that any changes in my body always outwork them self onto my skin. Most mornings this winter I've woken up and my skin is so thirsty and dry.  The other night I slathered the night moisturiser all over my face, mixed with a few drops of rose hip oil and when I woke up in the morning, I kid you not - skin wasn't dry. First time in a few months, it still felt soft and hydrated after a nights sleep.

Anyway, enough typing. Go and try it. I can proudly say Sukin have successfully roped me in as a ranting, happy fan. To happy healthy skin x

COCONUT, RASPBERRY & HONEY POPS

All time favourite snack at the moment. Kinda weird for winter but who cares. I kinda invented these the other day hence the very approximate quantities- just go with it.

COCONUT, RASPBERRY & HONEY POPS

+  1 can of coconut milk
+  big handful of mashed frozen raspberries
+  1/4 cup of honey/maple syrup
+  teaspoon of vanilla essence
+  handful of coconut shreds (optional)

Mix all together in a bowl. Add more honey or stevia to sweeten to taste. Pour into iceblock moulds and pop in freezer to set. Yum.

DIY CLEAN CLEANING

So for a long while I have wanted to rid my house of hectic chemical cleaning products. I held out from getting rid of the Exit Mould and bleach cos I don't think I actually believed natural household products would cut it. But a few months ago I ran out of Ajax and decided to bite the bullet and oh my goodness was it worth it. I had this yuk brown grime that was accumulating on the bottom of the kitchen sink. Scrubbing it hard with the  dish brush didn't get it off, and Ajax hadn't worked either. I'd kinda resigned myself to the fact that maybe it was just a result of an old sink which wasn't getting any newer. Out of slight desperation, I sprinkled a few spoonfuls of baking soda on it, waited about 10 secs, rubbed it with the brush and watched as it magically took all traces of gross grime off!! I actually could not believe my eyes. And that's not even being sarcastic. Then I sprinkled it all over the bath with some vinegar and it worked a charm. Dirty bath ring be gone!

The height of success happened the other night when Matt spilled a whole glass of red wine on our carpet so we sprinkled baking soda and sprayed vinegar on it and left it to dry. After 48hours I vacuumed it up (with apprehension) and the stain was completely gone!

Hope I've convinced you. Non toxic cleaning isn't invasive, it won't kill your lungs, you don't need to wear gloves, it won't kill you or your children if swallowed, you're not harming the environment and it works just as good- if not way better then commercial cleaning products.

*For an all round, all purpose cleaner fill an empty spray bottle about 2/3 of the way with water, mix 4 tablespoons of vinegar and a few tablespoons of lemon. Perfect for most things.

*Baking soda can be used directly (or mixed with water to form a thick paste) on any surface for tougher stains, such as carpets, bath, kitchen sink and ovens.

*I store undiluted white vinegar in a spray bottle as well to spray straight when required.

Can't go wrong with these 3 ingredients! It's cheaper and it's cleaner. Go green x