Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 19

20 Ways to Ethically Donate Used Household Items

You have no idea the good your old stuff could be doing! Rather than letting things you no longer have use for decompose and off-gas in a big, heaping pile of trash, ethically purge those items instead.  It’s easier than you think! There is nothing better than the feeling of a good, deep cleanse.

Remember – “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” think about the excitement you’d feel if someone surprised you with a vintage, storied handbag or a fun piece of antique jewelry. There is almost nothing from your home that needs to go in a garbage can, except cat hair.. and some people knit sweaters of that beautifully!  If there is something you don’t know what do with – you will after reading this list!

How to Donate Used Household ItemsGive away items to someone you know would love or could use a particular thing. For example; let’s just assume you have a 4-year-old boy – find a friend with a 2-year-old boy and give her all your small boys clothes and out-aged toys.  Hand-me-downs are called “pre-loved” for a reason! Better yet, join a Facebook “swap” group and dole out your outgrown sizes/ stuff for things that are of use to you.Hold a clothing swap with your crew, but open it up to include housewares, toys, etc. Serve refreshments, play fun music, and make it a girls-night-in sort of gathering!Sell your clothing to a local consignment/ resale shop, make some cash and clean out your unused duds. Note that there are upscale consignment shops that are very picky and ones that are open to all brands in good condition. Google consignment shops in your area and visit their websites to get a vibe for what they are looking for before you waste your time bringing in 5 garbage bags of clothes.Order a ThredUp bag and toss everything (men/women/kids/ shoes/ bags) you no longer want in it and ship it back (free) to them – You can opt to have them recycle all items they don’t accept so you don’t end up in the same conundrum you were originally in. There are many other apps and sites like Poshmark that you can sell your stuff on, but with those you have to upload the pix and run the sale yourself – which may take more time than you’re interested in spending – you most likely, however, make more money.  Buffalo Exchange  is now offering selling by mail too.Send high-end items to  The RealReal and make some dough or web store credit – only send in big-name designers for this one though – but working with them always pays off. The great thing about selling to The RealReal is conscious eco-fashion designers like Stella McCartney offer you incentives to earn $100 to shop Stella when you consign any Stella McCartney item on The RealReal.Sell your items yourself on  eBay – there’s no end to what you can sell.  You can choose to donate that additional income to your favorite charity to keep motivated to list more items.Have a yard sale.Use  GiveBackBox  – which will allow you to print out a free shipping label to donate your old items to a local charity in need.Donate to any local shelter, hospital, home for women/ children, homeless shelter, church, synagogue, mosque, pre-school, local public school, library, police or fire station, etc.  My kids’ schools were always more than overjoyed to take any toys or books my kids had outgrown. Before presuming your local school isn’t interested in your gently used items, ask! Covid precautions mean that many non-profits aren’t currently accepting donations – so make sure to call or email before donating.If you have a handful of items of the same kind, google the type of item you want to donate – example: “donate old shoes,” sure enough – up pops soles4souls.org which allows you to ship your old shoes (for free) to be distributed in poverty-stricken countries. “donate old glasses” turns up Lions Eyeglass recyling where your old glasses become someone else’s best hope at seeing.Ethically recycle non-working/ destroyed items. There are textile (clothing) recycling bins all over – google your local one if you can’t find it easily. The same goes for electronic equipment. There are often free shipping programs you can use to ship items to recycling centers not close to you.  TerraCycle will take nearly anything you could possibly imagine recycling, and more!Sell your old electronics.  Gazelle makes it so easy – simply go to their website and they’ll send you a box and/or a free shipping label.  Send them your old working (or even nonworking depending on the product.) electronics (mainly phones and computers and iPads) and these items don’t sit in a landfill forever, and you get paid for your conscious efforts!Donate old sheets, towels, carpets, rugs, teddy bears, crockery, heating pads, baby gates/ baby playpens, and rags to any animal shelters, rescue groups, or animal foster families. There is a company that accepts old teddy bears which they use to make into new dog toys! Same with  old sheets ! Wildlife rescues will also accept old fur coats to rehabilitate orphaned wildlife.Sell anything using your social media accounts, Instagram or Facebook, etc. – this keeps buyers close by, and the sales easier, and more trustworthy if from your inner circle or friends of friends.Take your penny jar/ spare change to the bank and put it in your account or give it to your kids to bring to their school to donate to a “penny fundraiser.”Offer your goods up for free on  Freecycle  or CraigsList – you’d be shocked what people want! Extra 2 packs of shower caps? Half a mannequin? A used cat tree? All these things are prime  Freecycle fare and bonus – they pick up and you don’t have to deal with pick up or booking a Goodwill pick up!  Live in a neighborhood where people drive your front yard? Leave your items on your lawn with a “Free to a good home!” sign for people to grab what they want.Ever seen the waste that gets tossed in the trash after a catered event?  There are groups like Rescuing Leftover Cuisine that will physically pick up every leftover and disseminate them to the homeless! You can also call ahead to your local shelter or boys & girls club and offer them your leftovers so they can expect them and be ready to receive them the day of your event.  Want a more hands-on approach? Drive your leftovers to an area where there are folks in need, and give them out.Donate old clothes/ shoes/ bags/ accessories to  Schoola  to benefit your school or the Malala Fund – shipping’s on them.Be creative: reinvent and repurpose old items. Example: We had an old bookshelf of about 5 years that was useless and broken as a bookshelf so we turned it on its side and used it as a toy storage for the kids. It stayed that way for at least 5 years before we recycled it.  Use Pinterest to come up with new ideas to reuse items that have overstayed their welcome in their current incarnation.Finally; Maybe you don’t actually need to get rid of it – maybe it just needs a repair or a facelift. Example; I once had a stained old faux-leather beige knapsack from college. I loved this knapsack and didn’t want to let it go, so I brought it to the shoemaker and he dyed it chocolate brown. And, voila – my old backpack lasted another 10 years til I decided to donate it to a clothing drive.

Moving forward: Be more mindful about your consumerism. Be sure to ask yourself “Is this something I truly need/ Will it truly give me joy/ Does this piece have longevity in my life” before you bring anything home. The less clutter you accumulate, the less you’ll have to reassign to the landfill in the future.

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

Turmeric Benefits and Uses That Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science Agree On

Turmeric root seems to be everywhere—and there are some pretty good reasons for that. Let’s take a look at turmeric, its uses, benefits, and how it may support your daily life.

You may know turmeric as the yummy spice in Indian food that gives curry that deep flavor and beautiful yellow coloring. It’s been a staple in India for ages, but it’s also prized throughout South Asian and Middle Eastern cultures as well as in Jamaican food.

But this golden root does more than just make our food taste yummy, it has a host of health benefits as well. 

What is turmeric?

Turmeric is often called a herb or a spice, but it’s technically a root of a tall, flowering Asian plant called the curcuma longa. It resembles ginger root if you’re familiar with fresh ginger. It’s got a woody-looking and nobby light brown exterior, but once you slice into the fresh root, there’s that unmistakable golden flesh.

Turmeric root is dried and powdered into its spice status where it’s added to curries and other spice blends. It’s also added to foods including cheese and mustard to naturally enhance their yellow colors.

India’s Ayurvedic system of nutrition and healing has long relied on turmeric for treating a number of ailments. In recent years, studies have confirmed many of this anecdotal evidence, elevating this seasoning to supplement status because of its link to numerous health benefits.

Curcumin benefits

Even without its other added benefits, a single one-tablespoon serving or turmeric packs quite the nutrient punch: it contains 26 percent of the RDI for manganese, 16 percent of iron, five percent of potassium, and three percent of the daily vitamin C.

But it’s the compound in turmeric called curcumin that has been in the spotlight for its link to a host of health benefits.

Antioxidants

Like other foods that are rich in color, the bright golden hue of turmeric indicates that it’s packed with free-radical fighting antioxidants. This means it’s an ally in your fight against oxidative stress and may support your immune system. 

Some studies have linked turmeric’s antioxidant properties to a reduced risk of certain types of cancer including prostate, pancreatic, and multiple myeloma. 

Turmeric’s antioxidant content may also support liver function and protect it from damage.

Inflammation and pain

One of the recent findings on curcumin benefits is its link to reduced inflammation resulting from arthritis. Several peer-reviewed studies have found that regular consumption of turmeric at 400 to 600 milligrams taken up to three times per day may help reduce joint pain and swelling associated with arthritis. 

The reduced inflammation may be linked to turmeric’s association with pain reduction. One study found turmeric had pain-relieving benefits similar to ibuprofen for arthritis knee pain. That study was based on 800 milligrams of turmeric taken orally by capsule daily.

Digestive support

Both turmeric’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have been linked to healthy digestion. It’s long been regarded in Ayurveda as a digestive tonic. Recent studies have found there may be some good reasons to follow this line of thinking. It’s been linked to reducing inflammation in the gut, as well as the permeability of the gut lining. And it may have implications for sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome as well, but further study is needed there.

How to take turmeric

You can certainly eat your turmeric! All manner of curries contain turmeric. You can also find fresh juices with this powerful root.

One of my favorite ways to get my turmeric is in a MyKind Organics golden milk latte. This is a delicious treat that’s super yummy. It’s a great mid-afternoon snack or a nice way to wind down your evening. My other favorite way to get turmeric is MyKind Organics Turmeric Gummy. Tastes like apple pie, kinda! We also have the Turmeric Booster powder, which you can add to juices or smoothies for an extra antioxidant kick as well.

If you’re looking for more localized benefits, such as pain and inflammation support for arthritis or other ailments, tablets may be the way to go. Check out our Extra Strength Turmeric, Maximum Strength Turmeric, and Turmeric Pain Relief tablets.

While there are thousands of years of history of safely consuming turmeric, there are some risks, particularly if you’re taking blood thinner medication. Turmeric is a natural blood thinner and taking it in large doses alongside medication is not advised. Eating it in curry and other dishes shouldn’t be an issue. As with any supplement, it’s best to chat with your primary care physician before you start taking turmeric in large doses.

Lead image by Marco Verch via Flickr

Buckwheat Blini With Almond Cream and Vegan Hijiki Caviar

Matthew Kenney’s Plant food and wine in Venice, CA is home to many a unique vegan creation, this divine offering is a perfectly impressive stay-at-home date night meal!

BUCKWHEAT BLINI | ALMOND CREAM | HIJIKI “CAVIAR”
Blini
Ingredients:

1 Teaspoon Active Dry Yeast11/4 Cups Warm Almond Milk2 Teaspoons Agave1 Tablespoon Ground Golden Flax Seeds3 Tablespoons Warm Water1 Cup Buckwheat Flour1 Tablespoon Cornstarch2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine yeast, almond milk, and agave. Set aside for 10 minutes or until liquid is frothy. In a small bowl, combine flax and water. Set aside until it gels. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, cornstarch, and salt.Add flour mixture, flax mixture, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir to combine. Cover bowl with plastic and set aside in a warm place for 1 hour or until the mixture has risen and is bubbly. Heat a griddle to medium heat. Brush with oil. Spoon 2 tablespoons of batter per blini onto griddle. Cook for 1 minute or until bubbles form on top and the bottom is lightly browned. Flip and cook for 30 seconds or until second side is lightly browned. Serve warm.
Hijiki Caviar
Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Dried Hijiki Seaweed3 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar1 Teaspoon Agave1 Teaspoons Sea Salt,1 Lemon For Juice And Zest

Soak the hijiki in cold water for 1 hour. Drain and rinse well and place it in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse the hijiki until it is broken down into caviar-sized bits. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the vinegar, agave, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and marinate for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. Pour the hijiki through a fine mesh strainer to remove excess liquid. Season with more salt and lemon juice if needed.
Almond Cream
Ingredients:

2 Cups Raw Almonds – Soaked For 8 Hours2 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar1 Tablespoon Agave1 Teaspoon Sea Salt2 ½ Cups Water

Place all of the ingredients into the blender. Puree on high for 2 minutes. Chill for up to 1 hour before eating.

Via Plant Food And Wine

My Favorite Bamboo Toilet Paper Brands

Paper towels and toilet paper wipe out 94,000 trees in the U.S. every day. Could bamboo toilet paper help stop that?

We don’t use paper towels in our household, but we do need our toilet paper. Fortunately, there have been so many stellar toilet papers coming to the market recently! My go-to choice in the past was always 100% post-consumer recycled paper since that meant it was made entirely from post-consumer waste, aka waste like your old newspaper or cardboard that has been recycled and re-purposed into toilet paper. This is great because it means you’re eliminating the need for harvesting more virgin materials from trees, and creates a demand for closing the loop on recycling. But then I learned in the process, it might take more water and potentially harmful chemicals to make the recycled paper hygienic. And some post-consumer recycling toilet papers might have traces of BPA, a known endocrine disruptor.

Then I discovered organic bamboo-based toilet paper. Bamboo is low maintenance. It doesn’t require tending, irrigation, or fertilizing, and it grows very quickly. I’ve tried a couple of different brands recently, so to simplify things, I’m breaking down the nuts and bolts of each.

Plant Paper: bamboo
+ made from organic bamboo
+ no dyeing agents of any kind are used; the off-white color of their paper corresponds to the natural color of the bamboo pulp
+ packed in a recycled chipboard box, and delivered in 100% recycled cardboard shipping box

Whole Roll: bamboo
+ made from organic bamboo
+ no harsh chemicals used in processing, Whole Roll uses Elemental Free Chlorine (oxygen, hydrogen, peroxide, and a derivative) to whiten their paper
+ for every pack purchased, a tree is planted along the Gulf Coast regions and islands devastated by storms to help rebuild those communities

Who Gives a Crap: bamboo
+ uses elemental- free chlorine to whiten the paper, not chlorine bleach
+ no inks or scents
+ their bamboo is predominantly grown by small family co-ops bamboo in remote areas of Sichuan Province in China. The farmers plant bamboo on the outskirts of their family farms to supplement their income. The processing of bamboo is all very localized – each village has its own bamboo co-op and pulp factory. Unlike industrial agriculture, no vast areas of land are cleared.
+ Who Gives a Crap donates 50% of their profits to help build toilets for those in need
+ toilet paper comes wrapped in tissue, in a cardboard box (no plastic wrap is used)

Seedling by Grove Collaborative: bamboo
+ sources bamboo from small family farms in China, in an area where bamboo is a native species
+ is grown without fertilizers or pesticides
+ every Seedling order helps fund our tree planting initiative with the Arbor Day Foundation to replant areas across the US affected by deforestation.
+ comes in packaging that’s plastic-free, fully recyclable and made from 100% recycled materials
All of these bamboo options above are exciting to me. I love the philanthropy aspect of Who Gives A Crap, Seedling, and Whole Roll.  What toilet or tissue paper are you using these days??

Photo: The Foraged Life

 

The 6 Clean Sheet Brands You Need to Try: Is Your Bedding Sustainable and Nontoxic?

When it’s warm, my mindset shifts when I see all the beauty blooming around me! I so enjoy cleaning, taking walks with my dogs in my neighborhood, and occasionally letting myself sleep in! It’s a rare treat!

On average, we spend about 26 years of our life sleeping. Isn’t that a trip? Getting a good night’s rest is so important and having the most sustainable, earth-friendly bedding options are not just good for the planet, they’re good for your health, too.

I wanted to share some of my favorite bedsheet options with you—there is a plethora of great organic, sustainable options out there.

Why go with sustainable bedding?

The short answer is that it’s healthier for you and the planet.

As I wrote in “The Kind Mama”, a lot of the products made for sleep—bedding, pillows, and mattresses—are doused in chemicals that can have a serious effect on our health and our babies’ health, not to mention on how well we sleep, which is a big deal given that we spend half our lives in bed!

Cotton, which most bed sheets are made from, is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world. According to the Rodale Institute, cotton crops use 16 percent of the world’s pesticides, despite making up just 2.5 percent of total cropland. Eighty percent of the most common pesticides used on cotton are recognized by the World Health Organization as moderately and highly hazardous. This makes conventional cotton less than ideal for human health and the environment. Pesticide exposure in humans has been linked to a number of serious health conditions including reproductive and metabolic issues and certain types of cancers.

Conventional sheets have chemicals in them. Like rayon and polyester and anything not natural. You want your body to be resting in natural materials that are also free of chemical flame retardants and other toxins. You need natural materials in order for that to happen. In my book, I also explained the issues with wrinkle-free” sheets. Along with most mattresses, these sheets can include formaldehyde—a known carcinogen linked to a host of health issues.

Sustainable materials, such as certified organic cotton, linen, or bamboo, reduce exposure to pesticides—that’s good for you and the planet! And when it comes to comfort, you can’t go wrong with sustainable bedding, either. 

What to look for in nontoxic bedding

Look for sets made from unbleached, untreated organic—or eco-friendly fibers like linen, hemp, bamboo (make sure it’s organic and sustainably sourced).

Personally, I prefer linen sheets for the beautiful lived-in, chic look. They also tend to last longer and get softer and softer after each wash. Linen can also help to keep you cooler in the very hot weather—perfect for the coming summer season. Not only is linen durable and hypoallergenic, but it’s also made from flax, which is biodegradable. Linen is also anti-static, and may reduce pH levels and allergens due to the absorption, weave, and filtered nature of the fibers! Pretty cool! (Literally!)

Organic cotton is another great option. It’s definitely softer in feel at first and always gets even softer with washing. Cotton sheets may shrink if not hung dry, so save the energy and hang them! Organic cotton also helps warm up the body, making it perfect for the winter months. It also absorbs water and moisture. Typically, organic cotton sheets have an approximate lifespan of three to five years.

Pro tip: When you have an old, worn-out sheet, cut it up and turn it into kitchen towels! Reuse!

Here are some of my favorite sustainable bed sheets: 

1. Organic Linen Vintage Feel Sheets: Matteo Home

Find them here.

2. Hypoallergenic Eucalyptus Sheets: Buffy

Find them here.

3. 100% Organic Cotton: Coyuchi

Find them here.

4. 100% Organic Linen: The Citizenry

Find them here.

5. 100% organic  cotton: Boll and Branch

Find them here.

6. Linen fitted Sheet, Two Dawson

Find them here.
Want more info on bedding? Check out this post about the trouble with wool.

16 Natural Ways to Alleviate Allergy Symptoms

As much as we all rejoice in the blooms, blossoms and greenery, for some people it can also trigger some pretty uncomfortable allergy symptoms like sneezing, coughing, runny noses, and just general discomfort.

For immediate relief, while we can’t control the amount or type of pollen (or other allergens) in our outdoor environments, we can take steps to reduce and remove indoor allergens and other toxins that bring down immunity and can make us more susceptible to allergy symptoms.

Allergy symptoms are one of the ways the body alerts us that our toxic burden is too high. Our extensive exposure to harmful chemicals in our air, water, food, products, homes, schools and workplaces is derailing and shutting down our ability to adapt to our natural environment. When you remove and reduce your exposures to toxins, many times allergies to natural pollens and foods disappear. Client after client has reported this to me.

Here are 17 simple cleaning tips for allergy sufferers, or anyone interested in creating a healthier home by improving indoor air quality and breathing easier.

Tip #1: Clean Up Your Air Quality

Even though people are buying non-toxic products right and left, most people still have products with harmful chemicals sitting throughout their homes. Even if these toxic products are not being used, they impact the air quality.

Think about how you can smell the products in the cleaning and pesticide aisle of the store. Those products are not only closed, they are also sealed… yet you can smell toxic VOCs emitting from the bottles.

The same thing happens in your home creating a low-level chemical soup your body has to constantly detoxify. Exposure to harmful chemicals impacts our immune system. Tossing these toxic products increases our ability to adapt and allergic reactions are reduced or are eliminated!

Tip # 2: Clean Up Your Diet

Foundational to a healthy diet – regardless of whether you are going vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, dairy free, keto, or raw – is removing harmful chemicals from your food. For example, gluten-free products that claim to be healthy and organic many times are full of harmful chemicals.

Eating organic, whole foods takes pressure off your immune system and is life-changing. This is especially true if you were eating tons of processed foods like I was. I grew up with debilitating allergies that no treatment, allergy shot protocol, or medication alleviated. I was miserable regardless.

Yet, one of the unexpected byproducts of changing my diet was the complete disappearance of allergies bar one, an allergy to cedar, which took a little more time and effort. No more shots, no more Rast blood tests, or skin prick testing, no more runny nose and itchy eyes. I was set free!

Tip #3: Clean Often

To reduce pollen exposure, allergy sufferers will benefit from cleaning their homes more than once a week… at least during allergy season or flare-ups.

Now, if you’re thinking: “how the heck am I going to find time to clean more?” Know that we’re not suggesting you do a full clean every day or even every other day.

The main thing to focus on is removing allergens by wiping down and vacuuming or mopping high-traffic areas daily. This includes your bedroom, entryway, and living room for example.

We’ll offer some tips on how to do this quickly and efficiently, including our favorite time-saving cleaning tools coming up.

Tip #4: Dust Properly And Thoroughly

Dust is an allergen in and of itself. And when combined with pollen for example, can create a double-whammy of itchy eyes, sneezing, runny noses, etc.

The easiest way to deal with this is by using a microfiber cloth/mop dampened with Branch Basics Streak Free or HEPA vacuuming to remove versus spread dust. Unscented disposable Swiffers are another effective option.

You can do this as often as daily or a few times a week to dramatically improve indoor air quality by reducing dust. Be sure to get the obvious and not-so-obvious spots like lamps, pictures, mirrors, window sills and fans.

Tip #5: Use A High-Quality Air Purifier

An indoor air purifier can make a world of difference for allergy sufferers or anyone concerned about their health.

We go over this in depth in: How To Choose The Best Home Air Purifier, but the main thing is you want a brand that removes VOCs, PM2.5 (fine particles like smoke and pollen), biological contaminants, asbestos, and lead.

You also want a product containing a true medical-grade HEPA filter that removes 99.97% of particulates at 0.3 microns in diameter. That not only takes care of pollen, but also those other pesky toxins listed above.

Tip #6: A Certified Sealed HEPA Vacuum Is A Treat for Removing Allergens

Oftentimes allergy sufferers give up on regular vacuuming because it doesn’t seem to help, OR they feel worse during and right after vacuuming.

Why would that be?

When you vacuum with a non-HEPA vacuum or a non-sealed HEPA vacuum it releases back a good portion of the dust, dander and allergens back into the air. Meaning, it can make your air quality worse than before you vacuumed. Allergies are often exacerbated after vacuuming.

This is why investing in a certified sealed HEPA vacuum is important to those with allergies (and everyone else who wants to reduce dust levels).

These units are completely contained systems, meaning no invisible dust and particulates will re-escape into your home. This is why abatement companies, for example, only use sealed HEPA vacuums when remediating homes for mold or other toxins.

Check out our favorite brands in: The Best Vacuums For Non-Toxic Living.

If a HEPA vacuum isn’t in the cards right now, consider renting one periodically or keep your windows open and air purifier cranked up when you are vacuuming and change the canister often.

Tip #7: Pay Extra Attention To Bedding

Throw pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals are great for decorating… and for trapping allergens. To minimize this problem, consider simplifying your bedroom decor down to the basics. For example, washable shams are a great alternative to throw pillows.

In addition, be sure to wash your quilt, duvet cover, duvet in hot water with Branch Basics Laundry or another non-toxic laundry soap to kill dust mites once a week during pollen season or allergy flare-ups.

HEPA vacuuming your mattress once a month is another great way to keep bedroom allergens at bay.

Tip #8: Don’t Stop Opening Your Windows

This may sound counterintuitive, but opening your windows for just a few minutes a day is one of the best things you can do to improve indoor air quality.

Yes, some pollen will get in. But a daily fresh air exchange is essential for dispelling dust, household toxins, and other allergens. In other words: the benefits outweigh the risks.

Since pollen counts tend to peak mid-day, it’s generally best to open your windows first thing in the morning and in the evening.

Tip #9: Break Up With Fragrance

Fragrance is ubiquitous in most American homes. It’s also one of the world’s top allergens. The single word “fragrance” on an ingredient list is a toxic red flag that represents a proprietary fragrance recipe containing potentially hundreds of harmful chemicals.

The chemicals in fragrance recipes have been found to be asthmagens (trigger asthma), carcinogens (cause cancer), endocrine disruptors (impact hormones), neurotoxins (affect our minds, moods, and movement), and obesogens, (trigger metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and make us gain weight regardless of diet or exercise). These chemicals bring down our immunity and can irritate the eyes, lungs, nasal passages, and entire respiratory system which heightens your sensitivity to other allergens.

So imagine trying to clean to reduce your allergies while unknowingly spraying a bunch of fragranced products into the air… while you’re wearing perfume… and doing laundry with that signature “fresh scent” detergent.

Opt for cleaning, laundry, candles, air fresheners, and personal care products that are fragrance-free.

Learn more in: How To Remove Synthetic Fragrance From Your Home.

#10: Declutter Your Home

The less stuff you have, the less dust can accumulate on hard-to-clean surfaces like piles of paper, books or knick-knacks.

We love the Marie Kondo method because it’s simple, you can take it step-by-step and it works. Buy the book, try the course, hire a consultant… whatever it takes, your life will be truly changed.

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#11: Keep Outside Entryways Clean

Pollen and other allergens can accumulate in breezeways, doorsteps, etc. To help, either sweep (with a mask), pressure wash or spray/hose down the area regularly. It’s also a good idea to shake out your welcome mat outdoors regularly.

#12: Clean Mold Without Bleach

Mold and mildew can cause and/or contribute to all kinds of allergies. Thus, it’s a good idea to pay extra attention to mold or mildew in showers, bathtubs, washing machines and other damp places.

One mistake people make is turning to bleach or bleach-based products to remove mold. Not only is bleach extremely toxic (and an EPA-registered pesticide), per OSHA 1 and the EPA 2 it’s actually not recommended for mold anymore!

That’s because bleach doesn’t remove mold. It acts like a disinfectant and only kills surface mold. Dead mold can cause allergic reactions in people, so it is not enough to simply kill the mold. According to the EPA, mold should be removed by scrubbing the surface with soap and water.

Fortunately, you can remove mold and mildew in your showers, sinks, counters, front loader and more using Branch Basics Bathroom, plus Oxygen Boost if you want even more cleaning power. To do so, spray and scrub the surface until clean and dry completely with a towel. If you desire to disinfect (note, disinfecting isn’t always recommended) then you can use Distilled White Vinegar or Hydrogen Peroxide.

We outline the whole process in: How To Clean Mold On Grout And Showers Without Toxic Bleach, How To Clean And Detoxify Your Washer And Dryer, and 5 Tips For Preventing Mold And Mildew In Your Front Loader.

#13: Wash Curtains And Clean Blinds Regularly

Window treatments can be a hotbed of trapped allergens, so it’s wise to clean them regularly during pollen season.

Some (but not all) curtains can be washed on a gentle cycle using Branch Basics Laundry. If you’re unsure of the fabric, consider damp dusting them or gently HEPA vacuuming using an upholstery brush.

Blinds can be dusted with a microfiber duster, cloth, or blind-specific duster (we have a product recommendation for you in tip #16).

#14: Change Air Filters Once A Month And Use High Quality Filters

If you have seasonal allergies or suspect you have allergens in your home, it’s wise to change your return air filters once per month versus the standard once every 3 months. In addition, some whole home air purification systems require a monthly change out of HVAC filters.

We highly recommend Filtrete air filters which contain zero antibacterial or chemical treatments. To save money, consider buying them in bulk from your local price club (Costco has great buys on these).

This simple trick alone can make a significant difference to your indoor air quality and allergy symptoms.

#15: Keep A No-Shoes-Indoor Policy

It may seem like a small thing, but shoes can track in a lot of allergens and toxins. Research has shown shoes can harbor things like pollen, pesticides, large amounts of harmful bacteria, fecal matter, dust, heavy metals and more.

These toxins will not all necessarily cause an allergic reaction. But they will drag down your immune system which can make you more prone to allergies… or make them worse.

The easiest way to break the indoor shoe habit is to place a shoe basket, either outside your door or directly inside your door and label it “Shoes”. That way, everyone remembers to kick their shoes in the basket upon entry. It’s also helpful to give each family member a pair of indoor shoes.

When it comes to visitors, make your shoe basket super obvious and just ask them politely to take off their shoes. It’s may also a good idea to have some clean socks handy to lend, offer fun kid-friendly shoe covers or have your Branch Basics All Purpose ready to spray on soles for those who either can’t go without shoes or are uncomfortable doing so.

#16: Save Time And Effort With The Right Cleaning Tools

Cleaning more frequently to remove allergens is a lot less cumbersome with the right tools. Here are some of our favorite cleaning products and gadgets that cut down on time and effort and really work:

Bona Microfiber Mop or Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop for hard floors used with Branch Basics at appropriate floor cleaner dilution: See our User Guide page 12 for Branch Basics Concentrate dilutions and tips for specific flooring.Invest in a high-quality HEPA vacuumBranch Basics Concentrate to dilute into All Purpose, Streak Free, Bathroom, and Laundry.Oxygen Boost for laundry brighteningHIWARE Window Blind Cleaner with Reusable Microfiber SleevesBOOMJOY Extendable Microfiber DusterBaseboard Buddy with reusable padsMagic Window Track CleanerCosywell Mop Slippers – Stick these on the kids and let them clean the floors, or put on your favorite music and slideTo Recap

A combination of frequent cleaning of high traffic areas, utilizing a good air purifier, HEPA vacuuming, ditching fragranced and other chemical-based products in favor of non-toxic products, decluttering, keeping a no-shoe-indoor policy, and tossing the toxins to support immunity by improving indoor air quality and your diet is a perfect recipe for improving allergy symptoms (or even eliminating them altogether).

A Prescription for Self-Care

Self care. Let’s discuss the buzz word of the decade.

I hear people saying it all the time. “I need to focus more on self-care.” The phrase self care may conjure images of massages and hot tubs. But it’s so much more than that. So, what exactly does self care mean? What does it look like? How do we take good care of ourselves? And the million dollar question:  how come there are so many of us who already know the answers to these questions– and we still aren’t doing it?

Self-care is the act of deliberately taking action to improve your emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. I tried to come up with a more interesting description but it’s pretty straightforward. So why is the actual act of self care not so straightforward? I believe that the reason that it’s SO challenging for most people is this: there’s no one who can do it for you. It’s ALL your responsibility. And we already have SO MANY responsibilities to other people. But HELLO! Why are you taking care of stuff for other people before you’re taking care of yourself?!?! PUT ON YOUR OXYGEN MASK FIRST PEOPLE! (and yes, I know I’m yelling. It’s only because I care.) In a society that is constantly trying to control things, this is one thing that we actually can take charge of…and yet, often, we still don’t. We spend so much time with output, we forget how important it is to refill our tank.

Alicia Silverstone and her pups relaxing

When I work with clients, self care is the thing that they struggle with most, sabotage the most, put on the back burner the most. They don’t make their doctors appointments. They don’t get enough sleep. They don’t ask for help. They don’t (otherwise disguised as “can’t”) leave work at work. They felt incredible when they were exercising during the month of January–but then they stopped. Most people know what makes them feel good, but they don’t (or won’t) make time for it.

Self care can be scheduling (and going to!) your doctor’s appointment.Self care can be noticing when you feel totally frazzled and taking 5 minutes to close your eyes and just breathe.Self care can be getting into bed by a certain time every night.Self care can be waiting for at least an hour after you’ve woken up to look at your phone.Self care can be going for a 20-minute walk every morning.Self care can be choosing to drink alcohol more moderately.Self care can be asking for help.Self care can be unfollowing people on social media that bring you down.Self care can be taking a mental health day.Self care can be finding the time to paint once a week.Self care can be signing up for a class.Self care can be creating a budget and sticking to it.Self care can be putting up boundaries in relationships.Self care can be deciding that you’ll turn off your phone for a certain number of hours every day.Self care can be getting a massage.Self care can be reading a book.Self care can be taking the time to look at where you are now and where you’d like to be at this time next year.Self care can be having a difficult conversation.Self care can be taking a break from social media.Self care can be saying No.Self care can be having lunch with a friend.Self care can be seeing an acupuncturist.Self care can be making time for the gym

 

Clearly, self-care doesn’t look the same for everyone. Sure – we all need to see our doctors and get a good night’s sleep. But you don’t have to do all these things in order to take care of yourself. Did something on that list really jump out at you? Start there. Pick one thing that you are willing to take the time for it and notice how it affects your week.

Need someone to hold you accountable? Drop me a note and I’ll check in with you to help you kick your excuses to the curb. My choice? I’m gonna finally start my mornings phone free. I’ve been saying I’m going to do this for a while now. No good excuse why I haven’t – I just haven’t bothered to break the habit. So now, I’m accountable to all of you!!! I’ll let you know how it goes.

Life is too short to spend it on the hamster wheel. Get off for a minute and refuel. Go to the doctor, take a bath, read the paper, have tea without a device. No one is going to take care of you if you don’t take care of yourself.

Michelle Pollack is a leadership coach who works with her clients to lead with confidence, integrity and purpose.
Photo by Taisiia Stupak on Unsplash

4-Ingredient Dairy-Free Pistachio Ice Cream With an Avocado Base

Dive into summer deliciousness with this DIY  dairy-free ice cream recipe. The base is avocado–yes, avocado! And it’s creamy, dreamy, and oh-so-easy to make.

Yields: 4 servings | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Inactive Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
For the pistachio nut butter:

1 cup pistachios

For the ice cream

2 avocados1/4 cup maple syrup1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Prepare the pistachio nut butter:

Add the pistachios to a food processor and process until they are broken down into a thick and creamy nut butter. This will take approximately 5 minutes, and you may need to stop one or two times to scrape the sides and help it along. Set aside.

Prepare the ice cream:

Set aside 9 x 5 loaf pan.Add all ingredients for the ice cream to the food processor with the pistachio nut butter, and process until everything is well combined and smooth.Pour the ice cream mixture evenly into the loaf pan.

Assembly:

Tightly cover the loaf pan and place in the freezer overnight, or until the ice cream is firm.Store in an air-tight container in the freezer until ready to serve because the ice cream will get soft if left out at room temperature.

Tip: Want to add some chocolate? Stir in mini-chocolate chips to the ice cream mixture before putting in the freezer, or drizzle melted chocolate over the ice cream before serving!

Photo: Karielyn Tillman
Karielyn Tillman is author of the cookbook Clean Desserts: Delicious No-Bake Vegan + Gluten-Free Cookies, Bars, Balls, and More

DIY Skin Rejuvenating Hot Body Scrub

This technique is cheap, easy, refreshes the whole body, and makes your skin gorgeous. Some of the effects you might experience from this DIY body scrub include:

increase in circulationhelps the fat trapped under your skin to loosen up and dissolveopens the pores to release toxinshelps to circulate lymph fluid

If you’re an overachiever, do the body scrub morning and night. I try my best to do it but I mostly just aspire to doing it daily. Try it yourself, do it for a month straight and see the amazing results!
Here’s how I do mine:

Fill the sink halfway with hot, hot water, but not so hot you burn yourself. Alternatively, I use a hot water electric kettle to heat up the water first so I don’t waste water running the sink.Throw in a washcloth.Remove the washcloth from the water, wring it out, and starting at your feet, scrub yourself silly. Continually dunking and writing out the washcloth as it cools off.Re-dunk the washcloth and scrub your face, your chest, your pits, down your arms, your hands, everywhere except your boobs and privates (re-dunking whenever the cloth cools off).Make sure to get your groin area next to your privates to stimulate the lymph nodes there.Be sure to tell yourself nice things while you do it. Admire how cute your feet are and how lovely your curves are!Whenever the water in the sink gets cool, add more hot.The whole thing should take between five to ten minutes!

Enjoy!

Photo: malacosmetics

Steamed Kale Drizzled With Umeboshi Plum Vinaigrette

Steamed Kale Drizzled With Umeboshi Plum Vinaigrette

Ingredients

1 bunch kale (dinosaur or whichever kind you prefer)1/2 to 1 lemon1/2 tablespoon umeboshi vinegar (ume vinegar)1 tablespoon flaxseed oil (if you can’t get flaxseed oil, substitute extra virgin olive oil, but the flaxseed oil is way yummier!)1 tablespoon sunflower seeds (optional)1 teaspoon shoyu/soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free (optional)

Directions
De-stem or chop up the kale.

Bring water to a boil in the bottom of a steamer or a pot fitted with a steamer basket if you want to steam, or fill the pot about halfway with water if you want to blanch. Add the kale for 1 to 2 minutes until the vegetable is just starting to wilt. Transfer to a serving platter. If you blanched the kale, drain out any extra water.

Add the juice of half or one lemon to the kale to taste. Drizzle it on generously!

Optional: toast sunflower seeds on a pan over medium heat for a couple of minutes until they have a nutty aroma and puff up a little. Add one teaspoon of shoyu (soy sauce) for extra flavor.

Pour the flaxseed oil and ume vinegar directly onto the steamed kale. Taste it and see if you want more ume vinegar, it’s very salty so go easy if you do add more! Serve sprinkled with toasted sunflower seeds. Enjoy!!!

*Note – people tend to throw greens in a steamer and walk away, so it’s super easy to overcook your greens. I recommend always erring on the side of undercooking it since it’s so water-dense that it continued to cook a little after being removed from the steam.
As mentioned, you can use this recipe with any kind of green vegetable (bok choy, collards, etc.)!

Video by Kristin Burns