Category: Recipes

Deleting Aluminum in the Kitchen

7/23/2024

Reducing your toxic load is a journey.
This is one easy step to getting
aluminum out of your food.

Cleaning up toxicity in your life is a big job and it's usually not a straight line journey. There is trial and error plus a lot of research and adjustment to find new products and habits to replace your toxic past.

If you are unwell or poisoned by chemicals or metals, you know the struggles of living with illness. Cleaning up toxicity can feel like just one more thing, but it's worth your effort.

When your body has to deal with a daily load of toxicity it cannot be focused on your healing which includes your natural detoxification and cell building. Without the extra burden, who knows what it might accomplish.

When it comes to aluminum, we worry about the brain. Even though there is a strong belief that Alzheimer's and dementia are encouraged by aluminum, there are others who will claim small doses won't hurt you. Your brain might disagree. And, those "others" are government agencies that have compiled years of bad information that they do not correct because there are no studies to prove the need for change. Instead they accept manufacturers' testing and opinions as truth. It's a curious loop and not in the best interest of keeping the public in good health.

In an effort to be safer than sorry, an easy kitchen fix is to delete alum and most baking powders. Although you can purchase baking powder that is aluminum-free, most of it is sold with aluminum. Deleting the variety with aluminum. absolutely does no damage to recipes. It's an easy fix to just buy aluminum-free baking powder and upgrade your kitchen instantly.

Alum is, as it sounds, made from aluminum. It is aluminum sulfate and used most often in recipes to keep crispness in fruits and vegetables. It has recently shown up for me in all pickle recipes that I've researched. I have exchanged the alum for grape leaves which should manage the same task. It may be that there will be a noticeable difference in the exchange, but managing the changes in holistic living is part of the journey.

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Non-Toxic Baby Products You Can Make in Minutes

8/20/2019

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   When you have the option of
   keeping baby safe

Why Not?

Recipes for diaper cream, shampoo and baby powder.

Somewhere in our history the smell of a baby became associated with commercial products. The most famous of these is Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder which is currently losing legal battles for causing ovarian cancer, yet, the imprint of that smell remains associated with baby.

With a new baby coming into the family, I did a bit of research. I used a site called Skin Deep by EWG. They rate cosmetics and personal care products. You can look up most ingredients and thousands of items are listed by product. The scale they use is 1-10 with 5 being moderately harmful. For me 5 is too much for a baby, or for me. Why not go as low as possible and keep away from mineral oil, other petroleum products and hormone disruptors?

In just researching shampoo products briefly here is what I found:

Burt’s Bees score of 3 and 4. The company was sold to Clorox, so beware.

Aveeno is 3 and 4 for most baby products.

Nature’s Baby is 3.

Paul Mitchell for Baby is 4.

Yes to Baby Carrots is 4.

Johnson and Johnson No More Tears comes up a 5. I also researched their Cotton Touch by ingredients and the first few are 4 and 5.

Desitin registers a 5, not because of the zinc oxide (which registers 2-3), but because of the added ingredients.

In general, if it is made by Corporate America…worry. That mean all that is familiar, all that is common and all that have coupons are suspect of using inexpensive, toxic ingredients.

In just a few minutes, I made 3 products that are easy to make and safe.
There are endless recipes on line so you can tailor them to your likes.

Recipes:

Diaper Cream
A combination of coconut oil and beeswax with essential oil. You could also combine it with castor oil which is antibacterial like coconut oil, or shea butter if you want a moisturizer.

Baby Powder
Combine organic arrowroot with lavender oil. You can also use corn starch, but keep it GMO-free.

Shampoo/Wash
1 cup water
1/4 cup Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Add vitamin E and essential oil fragrance if you like.

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A Safer Homemade Toothpaste Recipe

6/15/2019

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Homemade Toothpaste Recipe

Mix equal parts coconut oil solids with
baking soda and a drop of
a flavorful essential oil.

Your body is a machine that works 24 hours a day for you. When toxicity threatens, that machine knows what to do to remove danger from the body and begins to detox the threat as soon as possible. The chore is endless so whatever you can do to reduce the burden is probably a great idea. Trading in commercial toothpaste for a healthier version is one giant step to lessening the burden.

Here is what you can expect to find in commercial toothpaste.

Triclosan is an antibacterial added to soaps, toothpaste, cosmetics and body washes with FDA approval. It can also be found in clothing, kitchenware, furniture and toys which are less regulated.

Here is what FDA.gov says about Triclosan:

Some short-term animal studies have shown that exposure to high doses of triclosan is associated with a decrease in the levels of some thyroid hormones. But we don’t know the significance of those findings to human health. Other studies have raised the possibility that exposure to triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. At this time, we don’t have enough information available to assess the level of risk that triclosan poses for the development of antibiotic resistance.

There are other ongoing studies that involve the safety of triclosan. One is a study investigating the potential of developing skin cancer after a long-term exposure to triclosan in animals. Another is a study on the potential breakdown of triclosan to other chemicals on human skin after exposure to triclosan to ultraviolet (UV) rays. At this time, neither study has been completed.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS is a compound classified as a chemical and is responsible for almost everything you know and love that bubbles or foams, like toothpaste, soaps, body wash, shampoo and cleaning products. The problem is that it is responsible for skin irritations, disrupting hormone balance and has suspicious, but unconfirmed links to cancer, neurotoxicity and organ toxicity. According to EWG’s Skin Deep, it is a moderate treat.

The real problem is that a “moderate threat” becomes a “dangerous threat” when it is in so many commercial products that the quantities of absorption and ingestion are beyond intended regulated limits. We know that the body will store SLS because of quantities found in the brain, heart and liver.

Artificial Sweeteners, a normal additive for toothpaste, all have varying harmful effects. Only natural products like stevia or monk fruit are trustworthy options, having no links to cancer or diabetes.

Fluoride is a topic of much debate. The American Dental Association, ADA, stands behind its use but it's good to remember that these are the same people who brought you silver, amalgam fillings containing mercury and claim that storing that mercury in your head will not harm you.

The FDA classifies it as a drug. Even if you believe in fluoride as being helpful to teeth, you cannot believe in being drugged without your consent or knowing the proper dosage. In the case of children who ultimately swallow toothpaste and possibly combine that source with fluoridate water, this is a real problem.

Propylene Glycol is a humectant in cosmetics, bringing a creamy texture to products. It is also used in industrial antifreeze and the major ingredient in brake and hydraulic fluid. Even though it is a strong skin irritant known to cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage, it is used to improve the consistency of cosmetics and some food products.

This compound causes the fatal destruction of red blood cells, yet is one of the most widely used ingredients in cosmetics. It permeates the skin better than glycerin, and causes greater sensitivity reactions. This cancer causing agent, can be found in some dog food as a preservative. With that said, it seems like an unnecessary addition to your toothpaste.

In your quest to clean at least some of the toxicity out of your life, trying healthier versions of toothpaste is an obvious choice. *In that quest, be aware that many of the popular health based companies are being bought by Corporate America. For consumers who care, that means reading and deciphering ingredients. Don’t be fooled by “natural” or the addition of an essential oil.

So in the end, if you want a simple and cheap alternative try this homemade version of toothpaste.

Homemade Toothpaste Recipe

Coconut Oil Solids
Baking Soda
Peppermint Essential Oil

Mix equal parts of coconut oil solids with baking soda and a few drops of peppermint or another essential oil. Store in a small jar or dish that can manage any melting of the oil on a hot day. There is no need to refrigerate.

*NOTE:
Just FYI these are some of the Corporate America purchases of trusted healthy brands. It would seem unwise to buy without investigation, as these manufacturers are responsible for much of the poisoning of humanity.

Burt’s Bees is now owned by Clorex
Tom’s of Maine is now owned by Colgate Palmolive
The Body Shop is owned by L’Orleal
Annie’s Homegrown is now General Mills
Lara Bar is now General Mills
Kashi is Kellogg’s product.
Odwalla is owned by Coca Cola
Honest Tea is owned by Coca Cola
Naked Juice is a Pepsi product

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Peanut Butter Pie, the Probiotic Version

3/8/2018

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Probiotics and
Protein
in a Power Packed Pie

I cannot be credited with this recipe, but I also do not know who to credit. A quick video passed by me on the internet and I put the basic idea into this recipe. The amounts are general and can be altered to your taste, but the effects are a brilliant source of probiotics and protein to feed your gut, fight candida, heal leaky gut and reduce body pain without even trying.

The choice of nut can be altered with some slight variation to the outcome. Almonds eaten in quantity can be inflammatory, which is important to know if you are attempting to reduce pain. I’ve made this with walnuts and almonds, but many types of nuts can work.

Your choice of ingredients matters. Yogurt must be free of added sugar and without carrageenan, which is a highly inflammatory additive used as a stabilizer. Honey that is not raw, lacks the benefits that raw, unfiltered honey provides. Peanut butter should be free of sugar and additives to avoid adding inflammation. If you can buy non-GMO products you can limit the pesticides that travel with these crops and cause damage to the body.

You can also turn this recipe into a beautiful single serving dessert in lead-free wine glasses or parfait glasses. Using leaded products will allow the lead to leach into your food, so avoid them at all cost since these need some resting time in the glass container.

To make a parfait instead of a pie, layer about 2 inches of filling with about a 1/2 inch of crust material and repeat with 2-3 layers. Chill. These will last several days in the refrigerator.

Recipe:

Crust
1 cup almonds
1/3 cup raw, unfiltered honey
1 tbls. cocoa

Filling
1 cup peanut butter, crunchy or smooth
1 cup cultured plain yogurt
1/3 cup raw, unfiltered honey, optional

Grind almonds to rough stage in food processor. Add honey and cocoa and grind to a smaller, uniform cut without grinding to the point of becoming butter. Press this mixture into a pie pan. If the mixture is dry you can add more honey.

Mix peanut butter with yogurt and honey and pour into crust. Chill for several hours so crust and filling can join for serving.

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Homemade Body Scrub

2/3/2018

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Replace expensive, commercial scrubs with
sea salt and olive oil in just a few seconds.

Make your scrub to your own specs. There are no rules.
A simple stir of olive oil in sugar or sea salt and you're done.
Adding essential oil isn't necessary but it's a nice touch.
You can use it immediately or store it knowing you have cut the toxicity of commercial products.

The better the ingredients, the better your product. Your skin is the largest organ you have so the better you treat it, the better the benefits.

Your oil should be organic olive, avocado or coconut.. Your exfoliator is salt or sugar for a softer scrub. Using sea salt gives you more mineral content than regular salt or sugar. Then it is your choice of essential oil will finish your scrub and feed your skin nutrients.

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Homemade Non-Toxic Spray Cleaner

12/14/2017

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It's Easy and Non-Toxic

1/4 Cup of Borax
1 quart water

Mix and pour into a spray bottle for floors, counters,
bathrooms and kitchens.

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Vinegar Cleaning Spray

11/12/2017

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Cutting toxicity in the home
starts under
the sinks...

A major source of household toxicity is under the sink in both the bath and kitchen. With that said, this quick recipe can cut 50% of the toxicity you invite into your home. You will be able to delete countertop cleaners, window cleaners, refrigerator cleaners, range cleaners, ant spray and replace harsh cleansers.

The combination of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol make a quick and easy clean up. The alcohol will cut the smell of vinegar and allow for quicker drying. With the addition of some essential oil you have created a simple non-toxic, multipurpose cleanser that can be used as a spray or on a mop.

For added abrasive action, sprinkle baking soda on your cleaning project before using the vinegar cleanser. If you use baking soda on pans and spray you can watch the bubbling action work.

If you prefer, white vinegar alone will do the job. The rubbing alcohol and essential oils are not necessary.

Recipe:
Vinegar Cleaning Spray

White Vinegar
Rubbing Alcohol
Essential Oil

Mix equal quantities of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle with a few drops of essential oil.

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Apple Cilantro Salad to Detox Metals

10/4/2017

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Detoxing Metals?

This mix of cilantro with pectin from
organic apples could help.

Cilantro mobilizes metals that are stored in the body and brain. Because it is so powerful, it often gets a bad rap from people who feel ill after eating it. The problem comes when it mobilizes
more metal than the body can detox. That happens with other chelators as well. The process of reabsorbing left over metals hurts.

Apples contain pectin, which is a natural chelator. Why not combine the two and see if you can assist the work cilantro creates?

While you use the cilantro leaves for this salad, don't throw away the stems. They can be used for salad dressing, see http://www.searchforthecausenotjustthecure.com/blog/cilantro-detox-dressing-to-remove-heavy-metals. Starting with the base of apples and cilantro, you can add many things to this salad. Chopped walnuts will help the brain function and add protein, turmeric or cinnamon are good inflammation fighters and switching the mayonnaise to cultured yogurt will help fight candida.

Apple Cilantro Salad
2 organic apples, cut into bitesized pieces
1 bunch organic cilantro leaves, chopped
1/3 cup mayonnaise or cultured yogurt
1 Tbls. organic lemon juice
Pepper, to taste
Organic honey, to taste, optional

Place cut apples and cilantro in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl whisk mayonnaise, lemon juice, and pepper. Adjust to your taste using a bit of honey if desired. Mix together and serve immediately or refrigerate.

Serves 1-2

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Easy Homemade Sauerkraut

7/27/2017

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If your first thought is
Yuck...Think again.

If you are battling a sick gut,
leaky gut, IBS, skin issues or candida
this is a great fix.

I’ve read a lot of sauerkraut recipes and failed at several. They range from complicated to more than complicated, until this one. It is easy and fool proof.

Making your own sauerkraut can be a lifesaver if you are trying to create a healthy gut. If you suffer the effects of candida, you will notice the difference in your gut health very soon by eating a few tablespoons throughout the day. It is one of those fermented foods that will feed the good bacteria in your gut and will travel through to the colon, insuring the greatest benefits.

You don’t have to make a chore of getting sauerkraut into your diet all day. I use a finer grind on my cabbage because I like to throw it into salads and salad dressings. I even scramble eggs which creates a nice texture. Topped with a cultured yogurt, you have a good start to the day and a happy gut.

If you are dealing with candida and a sick gut, testing steps for candida can be found at http://www.searchforthecausenotjustthecure.com/blog/candida-testing-at-home

Recipe

Cabbage, chopped fine or processed to a fine or chunky grind
Sea salt
1 Gallon lead-free glass jar with lid
Water

Fill a glass jar with cabbage. Add enough water to cover the cabbage and set it into a small bowl that will catch any overflow from fermentation. Fit the top of the jar with a water glass filled with water to weight down the cabbage.

Let this sit over night for about 24 hours. Leaving the cabbage in place, pour the water out of the jar. Refill and rinse again.

Add one tablespoon of sea salt per quart of water making sure to distribute it deep into the cabbage. Fill the jar with water again, and with the lid in place, shake to evenly mix the salt into the cabbage.

Put the jar back into the bowl, remove the lid and cover again the the glass of water. Leave the bottle on the counter and test in about 48 hours to a week. Once you have a taste you like, it can be sealed with a lid and refrigerated. If you prefer you can leave it out for several weeks.

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Honey Garlic Fermented for a Natural Antibiotic

7/27/2017

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This might end up being your favorite
health remedy
or
it might be your favorite secret
cooking ingredient.

In either case, its power packed nutrients
are a gift to the body whenever you are sick.

This is a little concoction that I found very interesting, not only as a healing source, but as a cooking ingredient. It is simply garlic and raw honey allowed to ferment. Both ingredients are not only delicious, but each is nutrient rich, antimicrobial, boosts the immune system, high in antioxidants and antibiotic. The garlic has an added bonus of detoxing heavy metals. No matter how you use it, it just plain good for the body.

I keep some around just in case someone claims they are coming down with something, has a sore throat or is just not feeling tip top. Make enough to store. Age improves the flavors and textures. The honey becomes liquified and carries the taste of sweet garlic and the garlic becomes mellow and crisp with sweetness.

After the initial fermentation stage, I put it into the refrigerator to maintain the quality, but refrigeration is not essential. It can be taken as a tonic with just the liquid or the cloves can be eaten whole.

I would considering serving the garlic as a condiment on an appetizer plate with cheeses and meats without anyone realizing the health benefits. The honey drizzled over cheese could be very interesting. It is a successful addition to vegetables or cooking. Let your imagination be your guide.

Recipe:

Garlic cloves, peeled
Raw honey
Lead-free glass jar with lid

Fill a jar with garlic cloves and top with enough raw honey to cover cloves completely, leaving a small amount of room at the top of the jar. Lid the jar and place it in a small bowl in case the process causes gasses to bubble over.

Leave the jar on the counter and taste it after a week and after two weeks. You will see the changes with the honey becoming liquified and the garlic becoming sweeter. You can leave it out for a month or use at any point throughout the process. When I reach a process point I like, the jar goes into the refrigerator. My current jar is over a year old.

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<<Previous

Deleting Aluminum in the Kitchen

Non-Toxic Baby Products You Can Make in Minutes

A Safer Homemade Toothpaste Recipe

Peanut Butter Pie, the Probiotic Version

Homemade Body Scrub

Homemade Non-Toxic Spray Cleaner

Vinegar Cleaning Spray

Apple Cilantro Salad to Detox Metals

Easy Homemade Sauerkraut

Honey Garlic Fermented for a Natural Antibiotic

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