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Your Gut’s New Best Friend
The Surprising Benefits of Probiotic Water Hi Friends, my previous articles have been linked to gut health, so with that in mind… Today I would like to share with you the simplest way to achieve it. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, and probiotics have taken centre stage in this endeavour. Now whilst probiotic supplements, yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha and kefir have been popular choices for gut health, there’s a new player on the scene that’s creating quite a buzz: probiotic water. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of probiotic water and why it might be the next big…
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How to Sterilise glassware
Hi Friendlies, there are several reasons why it’s important to sterilise glass bottles and jars before use. We take it for granted that when we purchase cosmetics, drinks, sauces and pickles in glass bottles and jars that they are safe and the contents will remain safe for use, but how can we keep products safe that we make from scratch at home? We have to sterilise the containers to ensure that the contents are preserved. This blog will explore the reasons why sterilising glass jars and bottles is of paramount importance for health, safety and environmental sustainability. (Note: even though this blog is based on the sterilisation of glass; other…
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Microbiome (gut) Health
Today’s post has been inspired by two things; firstly a series of conversations I had with colleagues who, after travelling aboard experienced uncomfortable stomach discomfort and secondly a health issue I encountered that resulted in my gut microbiomes being compromised. Whilst researching for this blog I was surprised to find just how many aliments could be associated unhealthy guts. Let’s fix gut health issues. How does the Gut Microbiome Develop? Did you know that our gut biome began to inhabit our bodies while we were still in the womb? Once born, factors such as where we live; the health of our parents; whether we were delivered vaginally or by caesarean…
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Sweet dream stretches before bedtime
If you struggle with getting a good night’s sleep, you’re not alone. Many people find it hard to relax at the end of the day, making it difficult to fall and stay asleep. Incorporating stretches into your bedtime routine can help. Read on to find some that work for you Try some of the following stretches before going to bed each night to start your sleep in the right way: Child’s Pose Also known as Balasana in yoga, it is a common resting pose often practiced in many forms of exercise or relaxation. This is a gentle and relaxing posture that promotes a sense of calmness and helps to relieve…
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Morning body stiffness and aches… but why?
For a while, my whole body would ache every morning when I woke up. I felt as though I was literally falling apart. It got to the stage that I needed to walk down the stairs, like a toddler learning how to descend the stairs because the ache in my ankle was so severe first thing in the morning. Even though the pain only lasted for about twenty minutes, I just KNEW that if I wasn’t careful I would definitely snap my tendon. My kneecaps kept cracking and sounding like popping corn, again, as I descended the staircase. Whilst speaking to my peers and conducting the research required for this…
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Shea butter benefits
Shea butter is fat extracted from the nuts of the Shea tree native to Africa. Used cosmetically for centuries; it is beneficial because it is great at softening skin. It is naturally rich with a high concentration of vitamins (A, E & F) and fatty acids. In this blog, we will discuss the benefits of Shea butter and why it is a must-have in your skincare routine. Moisturising and nourishing: It heals cracked and dry lips quickly. The extra nutrients and the lightweight texture does not feel sticky at all, hence it makes for an especially effective lip balm for cold winter months. When I was younger petroleum jelly was…
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Neem oil benefits
When my children started taking up sports, they spent more time in communal swimming pools, gyms and halls. Ultimately they were then more prone to skin issues, virus and fungal infections. In order to mitigate the risks of serious infections I investigated the benefits of neem oil. Neem oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), which is native to India and other parts of Southeast Asia. It has been a main natural ingredient in Ayurvedic (alternative style used in India and Nepal) medicine for centuries, and for good reason. Its natural anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties make it an excellent addition to…
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Benefits of Avocado Butter
It sounds obvious you may say, but it comes to us from the fruit of the Avocado tree which grow in many countries around the world that include Peru, Indonesia, Colombia, Brazil, and Kenya. Now this avocado butter is designed for external use, and is made with 100% pure, cold pressed avocado oil. It is known for its rich and creamy texture that contains fatty acids, vitamin B12 and a high concentration of vitamin E (which helps to simulate collagen). This product is white in colour, has a neutral, faint avocado scent and is generally used in body butters, hair treatments and cosmetics. I use it as an additional moisturising element…
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Is honey good for you?
Recently someone I met asked me why on earth I would put honey in a skin cleanser. “It tastes nice enough; lovely in fact, but why would you even consider putting in on your skin. You can eat it and get all the benefits?” Honey Benefits As the title implies, the amount of honey in our Castile soap is just a hint. Honey is a superb additive in so much as it releases a wonderfully subtle scent, complementing anything it’s added to. The additional sugar content allows for increased lather without the use of manmade chemicals. Mass produced rinse off products contain many chemicals such as preservatives. Thus helping them…
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Dry skin patches, why?
See some ways in which dry skin can be minimised. Read how to stop skin becoming too dry, itchy and flaky. Learn what foods can be eaten to increase extra hydration.