Archive | HEALTH AND WELLNESS

4 Great Ways to Enjoy the Magical Power of Aloe Vera

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by Briana

I have been using aloe vera very for many years now. I was first introduced to this amazing plant by my grandmother who was the queen of all things natural – she knew all of remedies that always seem to work. Now most of us know that aloe vera can sooth the painful sunburns that we all dread, but that isn’t the only thing our friend Mr. Aloe can do! Here are some other great ways to make use of it – read on to check them out.

1. For Your Beautiful Face
Back in my teenage years I didn’t have the best of skin. I had a lot of breakouts and my skin was very oily. My grandmother came to my rescue! She told me to use aloe vera as a facial mask, so one night I gave it a try. I took a chunk of aloe from the plant and I rubbed it all over my face, yes it is a bit slimy but I experienced amazing results! It also helps with your happy lines (aka wrinkles).

2. Drink It
If you’re having some tummy problems, aloe vera can help. Aloe helps with your digestion and gets rid of those unwanted toxins. Use with caution because aloe vera is a super laxative – however, when used in moderation your tummy will be feeling better in no time.

3. For Your Scalp
Aloe has been known to treat dandruff and help sooth an itchy scalp. Your everyday dandruff products can be very strong in smell and many of them are loaded with harmful chemical and toxins. I remember growing up my dad used Selsun Blue, I could smell it from across the hall! Instead, grab some aloe to relieve your scalp naturally.

4. For Minor Cuts
Aloe vera can also help heal minor wounds such as a cut or a graze, although it is not recommended for deeper more serious cuts. If you fall off your bike or if your child has a small scrap on her knee, avoid the squinting and the ouch! And rub on some aloe vera.

Do you have other ways that you use aloe vera? We would love to hear!

You Can Be a ‘Green Parent’ Too! 3 Simply Steps to Get You Started!

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by Amanda

As you may already be aware, green parenting has fast become a new trend. Even though many of us have been on this band wagon for a long time, celebrities as well as people of all walks of life are now taking steps to not only reduce their carbon footprint but their kiddo’s as well. Hooray! Green parenting can be achieved through a series of simple thoughtful changes. There are endless ways you can do your part but we’ve put together a few expert tips on how you can easily reduce your baby’s carbon footprint starting today. Here’s a list of a few of our favorites:

1. Breast is Best
It’s not like you need to hear another beneficial reason to breastfeed but know that it is the ultimate green source of food for your baby. The milk you produce will be environmentally friendly because it doesn’t need to be processed, packaged and shipped to the shops, unlike formula milk.

2. Say YES to Hand-Me-Downs
Like with most things, the main carbon and environmental impact of clothing and furniture is in its production. Taking hand-me-downs from friends and family or getting clothes from charity shops extends the life of a garment and diminishes its carbon impact. Additionally, by using second-hand cribs, high chairs, strollers, etc. you will extend the life of that object and negate the need for a new one to be created.

3. Be Smart with Washing/Drying
We all know that kids, especially babies, are incapable of staying clean for longer than five minutes. However, start being more considerate of how often you are changing their outfits and make sure that the washing you do is unavoidable. Something else to consider is drying your clothes outside on a line or inside under a fan when possible as the tumble dryer uses enormous amounts of energy and adds a big chunk on to baby’s carbon footprint.

One of the best things you can do as a parent is to create eco conscious children. Talk to your kids from a young age about the importance of a low-carbon lifestyle and explain your reasoning. They will grow up to follow your example and pass the message on to future generations!

Rock Your Child’s Lunch Box with These Great Green Options!

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Back to school time means so many things for all of us – new school schedules, jugging family/work, after school activities, homework; the list goes on and on!  With so many things on our daily agenda, you need a back-to-school lunch menu to get you through the week!

Ebens Lunchbox

When Eben was younger, we loved the Laptop Lunches bento box, we had an extensive menu that we would pack for him! Now, that Eben is in middle school – it means that lunchtime is actually social time, and lunch is really an after thought – we really had to get creative to ensure he was eating. So instead of packing him a huge lunch in a bento box that he won’t have the time to really sit down and enjoy, we have resorted to sending him with several mini-lunch options that he can nibble on throughout the day.

We participated in Rock the Lunchbox this year and received a bunch of great coupons and healthy lunch ideas, so we decided to take the coupons and start to build a new lunch menu for Eben. We have been packing an assortment of organic meats, cheeses, fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds too – all in the Kids Conserve nesting tins! We also tried out the new Applegate Half Time Lunches, these are perfect for those mornings when something pops up and I start to run out of time! We already love Honest Kids pouches and utilize them when we are short on time too!

Lunch

For fun, I asked Eben to draw me a picture of his dream lunch – and I about died of laughter! I love the blue “natural Jello” – is that an oxymoron or what? And hi drawing a pickle is spot on! Too funny!

To learn more about Rock the Lunchbox, visit Rock the Lunch Box and grab your coupons and get more healthy lunch ideas to rock your child’s lunch box too! So, I’m wondering – what’s in your child’s lunchbox?

 

Full Disclosure: This post was created in partnership with Stonyfield – however, I would have told you about these products anyway, since we already use them!

The Top 9 Health Benefits of Ginger – Grab Some Today!

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by Beth

Ginger is an incredibly versatile food that has been used by many cultures for thousands of years. From Africa to China,from Nepal to the Philippines, it is a root that is used in food and drink, ranging from ginger sodas to curry dishes. There is a reason why this amazing root is so widely used.  In addition to being a delicious ingredient, it also offers many serious healing properties.  Let’s take a look at 10 of my favorites:

1. Ginger contains the minerals zinc, chromium, and magnesium, which have been proven to increase circulation and help regulate body temperature.
2. Ginger aids digestion by increasing the secretion of digestive enzymes, from both the stomach and pancreas.
3. Ginger has been proven to be more effective than dramamine at settling the nausea associated with motion sickness.  To this end, it can also assist pregnant women who suffer from morning sickness.
4. Ginger has been shown to have antibacterial, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, helping to cure sickness and alleviate pain. Just 1/4 inch thick slice of ginger, either cooked in food or prepared in a tea, has been shown to significantly reduce the pain from arthritis.
5. Ginger inhibits the growth of cancer cells, both ovarian and colorectal, as shown by studies executed at the University of Michigan and Minnesota, respectively.
6. In certain parts of the world, women claim that ginger mitigates the pain and discomfort of menstrual cramps.
7. Ginger can help stimulate the appetite.
8. Ginger acts as an anti-flatulent.
9. Ginger can treat constipation.

As you can see, the benefits of consuming ginger are quite numerous.  Before you decide to grab Dramamine, Tylenol, or the antibiotics, try some ginger out first and you may be pleasantly surprised at the result!

Have a Lovely Weekend + A Few Green Things

apple-orchardHello, Friends! How have you been? I haven’t written “A Few Green Things” in quite some time. I have been super busy building my virtual assistant firm and as you may have noticed, I have hired a few writers to help ensure that Sweet Greens is being updated with great green content each week! In fact, if you are interested in being a contributor,please email me, I would love to chat!

Eben started 8th grade this week – it really is amazing how quickly time flies. He was only 8 years old when I started writing Sweet Greens and now he is in his last year of middle school. Can you believe that it is almost September? I am already dreaming of our fall family trip – it is quickly approaching. Do you have any fall family traditions that you are looking forward to? A favorite pumpkin patch? Apple orchard? Fall hiking trail? While I lay back and dream of fun fall activities, here are a few green things I thought you might enjoy!

– I am in love with this twist on the ice bucket challenge – check out the trash bucket challenge!
Dogs really are the most amazing animals in the world!
– Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables each day?
– I am in love with this tiny home – it is complete perfection!
– What is hiding in your O.J.? Make sure you are buying a “good” one!
– Finally! For all of us biking enthusiasts – a self-locking bike.

I hope you enjoy the last weekend of August – I will see you back here in September!

xo,
Sweet Greens