Win a Jar of LAVO VOLCANIC MUD MASK (Free Giveaway)

Tonight I tried the Lavo mud mask. I am used to using plain French Green Clay in a powder form and mixing it with water. I wash my face, and mix up the clay, and put on my clean face. When it dries it really pulls my skin tight to the point where it is uncomfortable.

Using a LAVO MUD MASK on my face

I thought this would happen with the Lavo as well, but it didn't. I was impressed. It dried to a soft velvety  mask, and it was easy to rinse off.

The first ingredient is diatomaceous earth, which is filled with minerals -- silica especially (great for the skin, hair and nails!). The next ingredient is fuller's earth, which is similar to bentonite clay.

Clays are SO useful for so many purposes -- to make poultices, to use as a detox, remove oils and impurities from your skin, among many others.

I have many different types of clays in my home all the time: Zeolite, Bentonite, French Green Clay, and Diatomaceous Earth.

After using this mask last night, I thought, sure, this is nice, similar to what I get after using French Green Clay... but then.... I woke up this morning and my face was as soft as velvet! My husband even asked me why I was "petting" my face. haha!

Anyway, this works well for oily skin, acne, or even just to tighten and firm your skin to reduce the size of your pores. I am a testament to the softer skin, holy cow! And I have pretty good skin to begin with, for a 39 year old!



I also like the ingredients. NO PARABENS! I hate reviewing products that don't meet my stringent criteria for natural and non-toxic. Also they are cruelty free, no animal testing! I love companies who love animals. And, made in the USA!

So, let's give you a chance to win some, FREE! Just enter below! Good luck :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Healthy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

I love chocolate and peanut butter. What a perfect combination. So today I decided to make some fudge from scratch, without a recipe.

Here is what I came up with:

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE FUDGE RECIPE:

Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3/4 cup raw cacao powder
• 3/4 cup raw honey
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
• 2 tablespoons homemade vanilla extract
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup coconut oil

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients in a saucepan on low heat until well blended. I used a wire whisk for this.

2. In a glass 9x13 baking dish, dust a light coat of cooking spray. I use an organic olive oil version.

3. Pour mixture into glass dish and put in freezer or refrigerator to set.

4. Once firm, you can cut it up into whatever size pieces you prefer.

Store in refrigerator.

For this recipe I used  Freedom Super Foods Pure Raw Cacao Powder. It is important to me to use healthy ingredients. This fudge could be horribly bad for you if you used conventional ingredients: processed chocolate, GMO sugar or high fructose corn syrup, imitation vanilla, table salt, and margarine. Instead, by using healthy ingredients, I get a treat that isn't going to make me sick and is actually healthy for me (albeit high in calories -- but these are very rich you aren't going to want to eat more than one or two at a time).




The raw cacao is an anti-oxidant rich superfood. It contains magnesium, potassium and other important minerals. The grassfed butter that I use is high in vitamin D and K2, and CLA. The coconut oil has lauric acid and medium chain triglycerides that can speed up my metabolism, burn fat and help me stay healthy. The salt I use is filled with trace minerals and helps regulate my electrolytes.

So, after you make these, don't feel guilty. Enjoy the decadent treat as you partake of all these nutrients!



About Me: Hi! I am Rebecca :) I am the owner of Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. I love natural health and wellness, and I love to eat real food. :) 

I love my family, and my pets. I actually love all animals -- they are much nicer than most humans! I don't watch TV and haven't watched a movie in the theater for more than 9 months. I would much rather read a book!

I love to garden and make homemade products -- body butter, toothpaste, perfume, cheese, yogurt, etc. It tastes better when it's made from scratch!  Contact me here: sales@purifyyourbody.com

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Paleo Friendly "Pancakes"

The other day a friend of mine posted a picture of some delicious looking pancakes, topped with bananas and strawberries, on Facebook. They were GAPS and Paleo friendlym she said. I also have been seeing the recipe pop up on Pinterest often, 2 eggs and 1 ripe banana. My friend did 3 eggs to 1 large ripe banana, and added some almond flour.

Well, I wanted to try a variation of that recipe this morning, with a tropical flair. I miss pancakes, since I am gluten free. The gluten free pancake mix just doesn't cut it.

We have a friend visiting us so I had two macho men to cook for this morning. Perfect time to try something new. They can always go to brunch next door if it doesn't turn out (we live next door to Los Mandarinos which is a resort that has 3 restaurants, including one that serves a delicious brunch on Saturdays for $12 -- Sunday brunch is a little more expensive I think).


I did make a homemade syrup with raw honey and fresh pineapple, so if you are not using any sweeteners, you can skip the fruit syrup and use almond butter.

PALEO PANCAKE RECIPE:

Pancake Batter

• 6 small bananas, very ripe
• 6 large pastured eggs
• 1/4 cup flour of your choice (I believe almond flour is the most popular for Paleo, but I used Bob's Red Mill gluten free flour for this batch. I will try with coconut flour next time.)
• tablespoon of homemade vanilla
• teaspoon of cinnamon
• dash of Himalayan pink salt (or your choice of sea salt)

Fruit Syrup

• Freshly cut pineapple or other fruit (1/4 of a whole pineapple).
• 1/4 cup butter
• raw honey to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Peel the bananas and crack the eggs into a bowl. We live in Panama (Central America) so the bananas we got for this recipe were tiny ones, about half size of normal, so we used 6 of them.

2. Mix with a hand mixer. It may help to mash up the bananas a bit first, as I found it was a little hard to do when they were just in chunks.

3. Add flour. Depending on desired thickness of pancakes, you can add more flour if you want. Mix with hand mixer.

4. Add cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Mix well.

5. I do not have a non-stick pan, so I basically "fry" them in coconut oil in a skillet. I use 1/4 cup batter for each pancake.

TIP: 2 out of the 3 of us that ate this morning said the ones that looked "burnt" tasted better with more crunch to them. The odd person out was my husband. 

This recipe made 13 pancakes this morning. Enough to feed 2 ravenous men and myself.

Directions for Fruit Syrup:

1. Blend fruit of choice (I went with a tropical flair this morning so I used fresh pineapples. I can't wait to try mango next time). It is ok to leave some chunks in, as fresh fruit chunks are always nice!

2. Add the fruit puree, butter and raw honey to a pan and simmer on the stove until it starts to bubble. Stir frequently.

This syrup is DELICIOUS. You can try it with almost any fresh fruit, and it will be delightful.

We also added fresh cut up pineapple and bananas on top of our pancakes that we loaded with syrup.

I served my husband and then about a minute later realized I hadn't taken a picture of him eating his food, so I rushed back to take a picture, and this was all that was left! He was gobbling it up and said he would eat it every day if he could!


 

About Me: Hi! I am Rebecca :) I am the owner of Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. I love natural health and wellness, and I love to eat real food. :) 

I love my family, and my pets. I actually love all animals -- they are much nicer than most humans! I don't watch TV and haven't watched a movie in the theater for more than 9 months. I would much rather read a book!

I love to garden and make homemade products -- body butter, toothpaste, perfume, cheese, yogurt, etc. It tastes better when it's made from scratch!  Contact me here: sales@purifyyourbody.com

B-12 - What Type is BEST for You?

Everyone knows that B-12 is the "energy" vitamin. And it also can be used as a hangover preventive. (Yes, I know, I am an enabler). Since I don't drink alcohol of any kind, and I hate it when my husband wakes up with a hangover because of a party we went to the night before, I bring B-12 and give it to him throughout the night.

What I found out that it does, is prevent your body from becoming dehydrated.... and that is the number one cause of hangovers. Between B-12 and drinking a glass of water for every two alcoholic drinks you consume, you should be fine the next morning (well, at least not with a severe hangover headache).

But that is not what this post is about. I want to tell you a teeny bit about methylation, and why you may be experiencing chronic fatigue, neuropathy in your nerves (numbness, tingling, and even pain) and other symptoms of B vitamin deficiencies.

Doctors and researches have concluded that up to 45% of the population has methylation issues. This is a genetic factor, where some genes disrupt the normal cycle. The most common being MTHFR gene mutation. But what does that mean in layman's terms?

• If you take B-vitamins, they most likely are the form of folic acid (vs. methyl folate), cyanocobalamin (vs methylcobalamin), B9 (vs. P-5-P) and so on. Go ahead, check your vitamins.... 
• If you don't methylate correctly, no matter what your serum levels are of these tests, you may be experiencing deficiency -- because your body cannot convert these vitamins into their active forms -- a part of your body's methylation cycle that should normally be able to convert those vitamins, and allow your body to use them.
• If your doctor is not aware of these issues (many doctors aren't, as the MTHFR genes have only recently been discovered this generation, thanks to the Human Genome Project), then you may be sent away with a prescription you don't need, to try to mask your symptoms. 

One of the biggest examples is peripheral neuropathy. There are three main causes of this debilitating disease:

1. Alcoholism
2. Diabetes
3. B-12 deficiency.

Let's take my family history as an example. My grandmother had severe peripheral neuropathy, my dad currently has it pretty bad, and my brother and I started showing symptoms a few years ago. (Me, about 9 years ago when I was around 30, although my brother started showing symptoms in his 20s).

So, when I went to the doctor, we ruled out #1 and #2. And we did a B-12 blood test. Came back normal. Of course it did, I was taking my vitamins every day! I was sent on my way, diagnosed as idiopathic neuropathy (idiopathic is just a label they throw on when they don't know what causes the symptoms).

Neither my brother or my dad have alcoholism, diabetesm or a B-12 deficiency as caused by  lack of B vitamins. However, I am willing to bet that they have methylation issues (they haven't gotten tested, although I have, and I have a ton of mutated methylation genes. Some of them are homozygous (meaning I got one risk allele from each parent) so for sure my father has some.

So what is one possibility that is going on with this neuropathy? Simple. My blood has enough of the B vitamins but is UNABLE TO CONVERT THEM TO THEIR USABLE FORM. So the blood test is no good for people with methylation issues.

What do you do? Simple. Take the B-vitamins in their ACTIVE FORM. There are many types of B-12:

1. Cyanocobalamin (Non-active form, but most common)
2. Methylcobalamin (Most common active form)
3. Adenosylcobalamin (Active form - harder to find)
4. Hydrosylcobalamin (Active form - also hard to find)

The one I want to talk about is methylcobalamin. When you order B-12 from the health food store or online, most likely it is cyanocobalamin. But your body cannot use that form very easily, especially if you have methylation issues.

So my recommendation is to use methylcobalamin or one of the other active forms of B-12 listed above. Avoid the cyanocobalamin.

Another important B-vitamin to take in its active form is folate (B-9). Avoid folic acid, which is a synthetic version your body cannot assimilate.

And one more B-vitamin to take in active form is B-6, or P-5-P (pyridoxal-5'-phosphate).

These three B vitamins are extremely important to take in their active form.

Apex Natural sent me a bottle of Methyl B-12 lozenges to try out. They taste great, have methylcobalamin, but they also have folic acid and B-6 in their inactive forms. Which to me, sort of defeats the purpose of taking the active form of B-vitamins.



Since I am not a doctor of methylation, and I am only a layman who has studied and has interest in this subject for my own personal health, I would have to say that this brand is ok, but definitely not for someone who has the MTHFR gene mutation, and needs to stay away from folic acid.

It would have been better if this only included B-12 (methylcobalamin). But, if you only want to focus on the methyl form of B-12, this is an awesome option for you.


About Me: Hi! I am Rebecca :) I am the owner of Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. I love natural health and wellness, and I love to eat real food. :) 

I love my family, and my pets. I actually love all animals -- they are much nicer than most humans! I don't watch TV and haven't watched a movie in the theater for more than 9 months. I would much rather read a book!

I love to garden and make homemade products -- body butter, toothpaste, perfume, cheese, yogurt, etc. It tastes better when it's made from scratch!  Contact me here: sales@purifyyourbody.com


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Probiotics - When is it Best to Supplement

Everyone knows that probiotics are very important for their gut health. And about half the people know that if you do decide to use antibiotics, you should use probiotics to replenish the good bacteria that the antibiotics wiped away. Otherwise you can get intestinal ailments that can lead to leaky gut, food allergies, gut dysbiosis, and more.

So, what are the best ways to get probiotics? Let me tell you my thoughts.

MAKE YOUR OWN.

For example, I was making my own milk kefir, kombucha and water kefir, and fermenting my own cabbage to make my own sauerkraut.

Those homemade ferments have so many trillions of good bacteria in them, waiting to invade your body with goodness!

But... what if... you find out that those actually weren't the best for YOU?

For me, in particular. I found out that I was sensitive to brewer's yeast. Well, there goes my milk kefir, water kefir and kombucha! And because of my thyroid issues I should not be eating so much cabbage as it is a goitrogenic vegetable and is contraindicative in thyroid cases.

So what is best for me is turning to supplementation. And that means finding a good probiotic in pill form.

I received this Advanced Probiotic from Number One Nutrition to review. And so I was ready to try it. But after reading the ingredients I realized it had maltodextrin in it, and I can't ingest maltodextrin without getting sick. Most of the time, maltodextrin has hidden MSG in it, which I am allergic to. My husband doesn't get sick from it, so maybe I will let him try these (although he eats homemade sauerkraut so he may not need to supplement).

But also, maltodextrin can come from a corn source, and if so, it is likely that it is a GMO product. Because I am pro-labeling of GMOs, I cannot recommend a product that doesn't provide its source.

Also, there are only 10 billion CFUs. I take another product with 25 billion CFUs minimum, so that was somewhat of a disappointment.



And I stand firm in my recommendations, and will continue to recommend products that I feel are good for my customers, but be honest about ones that I would hesitate to recommend.



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

You're GROUNDED! And FREE Giveaway Valued at $49.99!

As a child I always felt there was something magical about walking barefoot on the grass. I felt a sense of peace (in this chaotic world) and enjoyed the "magic" of it. As a teen when I spent more time at the beach (Santa Cruz, CA) during the summer, I also was barefoot, again experiencing that sense of calm.

A few years ago I learned what that "magic" was all about. It is something that has been around forever, yet the health benefits that it provides have not been studied until recently. It is called "Earthing" or "Grounding".

Here is my walking path (and my dog, Aegis). I walk in my
grounding sandals because the road is too rocky for bare feet..

The Wellness Mama stated:

Basically, the theory is that our bodies are meant to come into contact with the Earth (a “grounding” force) on a regular basis. Positive electrons in the form of free radicals (ever heard of those guys?) can build up in our bodies and direct contact with the ground balances this out as it is a negative grounding charge.

Our bodies and cells have electrical energy, and especially with the high prevalence of Electromagnetic waves, Wi-Fi and mobile phone waves, many of us have a high amount of positive electrons built up in our bodies.

She lists the health benefits of earthing:

• Reducing inflammation by defusing excess positive electrons
• Reducing chronic pain
• Improving Sleep
• Increasing Energy
• Lowering stress and promoting calmness by reducing stress hormones.
• Normalizing biological rhythms including circadian rhythm
• Improving blood pressure and blood flow
• Relieving muscle tension and headache
• Lessens menstrual and female hormone symptoms
• Speeds healing- used in some places to prevent bed sores
• Can eliminate jet lag
• Protecting the body from EMFs
• Shortens recovery time from injury or athletic activity
• Reducing or eliminating snoring
• Helping support adrenal health

I purchased an earthing mat about 3 years ago, and used it underneath my desk (I work from home), and then saw an earthing sheet for sale and snatched that up as well. I found that I did truly sleep better when using them. But, my chronic pain didn't go away.




Then I moved to Panama (on the beach) and we lived in an old beach house  that didn't have any grounded outlets. (You need grounded outlets for the earthing sheet and mat to work.) Man that was a fire hazard for sure. One of our ceiling fans would pump out excess electricity so that the light bulb connected to it would flash about once every 15 minutes when turned off. (no joke!).

When we first moved to Panama I walked barefoot on the beach for about 45 minutes about 5 times a week. It took awhile but the chronic bursitis in my hips started to go away after a month or so of walking. Then, I stopped going to the beach so often, maybe only going once a week. The pain came back.

We recently moved to the mountains, because the beach was too hot for us. And now I have a newer place that has grounded outlets, so the earthing mat and earthing sheet are back in business.

Groundals are available in gold, silver or black, women's sizes. But shortly they
will be available for men, and also with a nice fabric strap instead of the rubber one.

 But I also received these grounding sandals and started wearing them while I went on my daily walks. What is so cool about these are the added benefit of grounding when I walk my dog, when I sit outside (it is so beautiful in the mountains and not nearly as many bugs!) and when I run errands.

You can reap the benefits of being grounded when you walk barefoot (or wear these sandals) on:

• Brick
• Stone
• Cement
• Sand
• Grass
• Soil

They don't work on wood, tile, carpet, linoleum or most any other flooring that is used indoors.



If you don't believe me that electrons can act as antioxidants, Here is a study by the National Institute of Health, the conclusion:

The research summarized here and in subsequent reports provides a basis for a number of earthing technologies that restore and maintain natural electrical contact between the human body and the earth throughout the day and night in situations where going barefoot on the earth is impractical. It is proposed that free or mobile electrons from the earth can resolve chronic inflammation by serving as natural antioxidants.

Walking barefoot DOES make you feel better. Being grounded while sleeping CAN help you sleep better. And these sandals can give you the same benefit.

Some tips to help you use your Groundals better:

• The Groundals (grounding sandals) are a little tight -- they run small so when you order make sure you order a size or two larger than normal. I am regularly a size 8 to 8 1/2 and I had to order a large.
•  Wear them around the house first to break them in a bit (maybe a day or two of wearing them for a couple hours before going on a 2 hour walk).
• If you put on lotion or have sweaty feet, the black rubber will rub off on your soles for the first few times you wear them.

ENTER TO WIN:

We are giving away a FREE pair of Groundals to a lucky winner, so please enter to win below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Me: Hi! I am Rebecca :) I am the owner of Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. I love natural health and wellness, and I love to eat real food. :) 

I love my family, and my pets. I actually love all animals -- they are much nicer than most humans! I don't watch TV and haven't watched a movie in the theater for more than 9 months. I would much rather read a book!

I love to garden and make homemade products -- body butter, toothpaste, perfume, cheese, yogurt, etc. It tastes better when it's made from scratch!  Contact me here: sales@purifyyourbody.com
 


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Soap Nuts -- in an EASY TO USE Liquid! Green Virgin Products Does It Again!

I have been using the popular DIY laundry soap with Fels Napthe, Borax and Washing Soda, for many years now. It works fine. Sometimes I have to pre-treat stains, but I am used to my clothes not having any "summer blossom" scent to them. And I like that it is toxin free.

I started years ago with using the liquid DIY laundry soap, which was easy to use in the wash but hard to store. More recently (in the past 6 months) I started using the concentrated powder, which takes 5 minutes to make 3 months worth of laundry soap.

But, I always wanted to try soap nuts. The thing that steered me away from that is they require hot water. Since I wash in cold water, I would have to add hot water to the soap nuts to get them "sudsy" before adding them to the wash.

I am too lazy for that.

But now I found some liquid soap nuts! I started using them this past week. For HE washing machines, they do up to 120 loads! This is crazy, I won't have to get anymore for almost a year!



And another neat thing is that they are so affordable, at $18.95 for 120 loads, they are good for the environment -- not neutral, but actually GOOD. They have a negative carbon foot print! They are anti-microbial, and you don't even need fabric softener for them. Fabric softener is one of the most toxic products in most all American households. I have used distilled white vinegar and then dryer balls, but since we moved last month, I don't have a dryer, so I can't use my dryer balls anymore.



After washing my first load, I have to admit that my clothes actually smell nice! I did not believe there would be a fresh scent, but there is.

What is nice about the liquid is that it is easy to use. For some reason I think the soap nuts themselves are too complicated for lazy old me -- having only cold water to wash in. So this liquid is perfect. I think the original soap nuts may be a bit cheaper, but I am not looking for the cheapest solution.... I am looking for non-toxic and chemical free, and easy to use. This works!

BUY HERE

About Me: Hi! I am Rebecca :) I am the owner of Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. I love natural health and wellness, and I love to eat real food. :) 

I love my family, and my pets. I actually love all animals -- they are much nicer than most humans! I don't watch TV and haven't watched a movie in the theater for more than 9 months. I would much rather read a book!

I love to garden and make homemade products -- body butter, toothpaste, perfume, cheese, yogurt, etc. It tastes better when it's made from scratch!  Contact me here: sales@purifyyourbody.com

Eczema? Try This Solution From Cheryl Lee MD

My husband had the opportunity to try Cheryl Lee MD's line of products for his skin conditions. While these products were specifically for eczema, we don't know exactly whether he has eczema or psoriasis. I think it is psoriasis.

This is why you should go to the doctor WITH your husband, because he came home and was prescribed some ointment, but couldn't remember what the dermatologist told him he had. The ointment worked for a few days and then stopped working. So for the past few years my husband has been using OTC hydrocortisone cream from the drug store.

Since I only had one incident of eczema I didn't think I should review it, so I turned it over to my husband, as it should help him, whatever skin condition he has.

After two weeks of use:

His skin looks better. He doesn't know if it has anything to do with the creams he has been using, but I know that it has helped. He may think it is coincidence, but even after he shaves, his face is not red and blotchy under where his whiskers were.




While I feel strongly about treating the source of the issue, not just the symptoms, sometimes you either cannot find out the source (as it is a long journey, searching for answers) or you want relief NOW while you are working on nipping the problem in the bud.

Most skin problems stem from food allergies, autoimmune conditions or exposure to environmental toxins. This cream will not help you all of the sudden heal your autoimmune disorder. But, it should help with the symptoms while you search for more answers to heal yourself (most of the time it stems in the gut -- leaky gut, gut dysbiosis, etc).

And while I am really into only putting natural things onto my skin, my husband isn't. He doesn't care too much about toxic chemicals that he is putting into his body via his skin.

One thing about the skin is that when lotions and personal care products are absorbed into your body via the skin, there is no filter, it goes directly to the bloodstream. When taking something orally, you have your liver to act as a filter. This is one reason why transdermal medications are becoming more popular.

I can say this cream is free from:

• Parabens
• Fragrances
• PEG
• Formaldehyde

However, the TrueLipids Relieve and Protect Ointment has petroleum jelly in it, something I avoid personally. I am ok with my husband using it because it is almost perfect. And it is very hard to find something that works, that is 100% all natural. I just wanted to point that out to you.

The TrueLipids Eczema Cream has 1% hydrocortisone in it along with some other ingredients. Sometimes I use hydrocortisone so I cannot begrudge him from using it, especially when it gives him so much relief.

And the best thing would be for him to heal from the inside out, but that isn't going to happen. Just getting him to eat some vegetables is like trying to potty train a dragon. (Not that I have any experience).

About Me: Hi! I am Rebecca :) I am the owner of Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. I love natural health and wellness, and I love to eat real food. :) 

I love my family, and my pets. I actually love all animals -- they are much nicer than most humans! I don't watch TV and haven't watched a movie in the theater for more than 9 months. I would much rather read a book!

I love to garden and make homemade products -- body butter, toothpaste, perfume, cheese, yogurt, etc. It tastes better when it's made from scratch!  Contact me here: sales@purifyyourbody.com

Meat Shredding Claws - Make Pulled Pork and Shredded Beef SUPER EASILY!

I LOVE pulled pork, shredded beef, and shredded chicken. Absolutely LOVE making meals out of grassfed beef and pork, and pastured chicken. (I am not a vegetarian -- although for some reason many people who know me think I am because I am a "health nut" -- but that doesn't equate to vegetarian lifestyle for most people). I follow the beliefs of Nourishing Traditions, Weston A Price, and maybe somewhat of a Paleo lifestyle.... except I have been eating some grains (about once a week) lately. Raw milk, fatty pastured bacon, organic grassfed beef, YUM. All super healthy for you.

One thing I don't do is eat conventional, factory farm raised meat. I am against the inhumane treatment of animals in these feedlots, I am against the unnatural food that is given to them, and the injections of hormones and antibiotics.

I would rather eat a salad than conventional meat.

Thankfully I have access to good, healthy meat and dairy products. It is a bit more money, but worth it. I don't have anything against a vegan or vegetarianism lifestyle as long as they get enough nutrients and do it wisely. It is just not for me.

So, for my whole life when I have shredded the beef or pork or chicken, I used two forks. And I got burned and made a mess EVERY SINGLE TIME. But I continued on doing it that way because I didn't know any other way.

Until I found these MEAT CLAWS. I knew I had to have some. So when they arrived, I had to try them out. I tried them out on chicken breast. Except where I live, when you buy chicken breast, most of the time you will find a rib cage included. Yes, that is Latin America for you!

Into the crockpot with some chicken broth it goes. And when it was done, I EASILY was able to shred it.




I am in love with these things and now I know what to get for Christmas gifts! They make great stocking stuffers! (Not that I am planning Christmas yet or anything like that, I mean come on, it is JULY! )

Some selling points:

• They have 6 prongs each, which allow them to shred quicker than using forks
• They are easy to hold and use -- to pick up the meat and to shred. Very comfortable grip.
• They are BPA free and heat resistant. I do not know what they ARE made out of as some of the BPA-replacements are even worse endocrine disruptors.
• They are dishwasher safe. But that doesn't help me much because I don't have a dishwasher and I don't even have hot water in my kitchen -- so I use  castile soap to clean them.
• They have a money back guarantee.

So, when are you going to get yours?

About Me: Hi! I am Rebecca :) I am the owner of Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. I love natural health and wellness, and I love to eat real food. :) 

I love my family, and my pets. I actually love all animals -- they are much nicer than most humans! I don't watch TV and haven't watched a movie in the theater for more than 9 months. I would much rather read a book!

I love to garden and make homemade products -- body butter, toothpaste, perfume, cheese, yogurt, etc. It tastes better when it's made from scratch!  Contact me here: sales@purifyyourbody.com

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Win 40 Detox Foot Pads For Yourself and 40 For Your Friend!

After a very casual "survey" of my Facebook Fans, the majority of them preferred that the prize in this contest would be 40 detox foot pads for the winner, and 40 for a friend of the winner's choice :)

Here is the contest. PLEASE SHARE with your friends and family (there are share buttons at the end of the post -- they are a little small but you should see them) -- if you don't win, maybe one of your friends will, and they will choose YOU to receive the additional 40 detox foot pads!

This contest starts midnight MDT on July 16th and ends midnight on July 22nd. US mailing addresses only.

Good luck!

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About Me: Hi! I am Rebecca :) I am the owner of Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. I love natural health and wellness, and I love to eat real food. :) 

I love my family, and my pets. I actually love all animals -- they are much nicer than most humans! I don't watch TV and haven't watched a movie in the theater for more than 9 months. I would much rather read a book!

I love to garden and make homemade products -- body butter, toothpaste, perfume, cheese, yogurt, etc. It tastes better when it's made from scratch!  Contact me here: sales@purifyyourbody.com
 


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VacuPractor -- Is This The Solution For Lower Back Pain Relief?

X-ray taken of my lumbar vertebrae April 2014

I cannot remember a time when my back didn't hurt. As a child and teenager I remember always being in pain. Even during my years of playing competitive ice hockey, I just played through the pain. And then there were times when the pain was so bad that I ended up at the physical therapist's office doing isolation exercises for my back muscles.

Those were painful. And they helped a little. But the pain always crept back.

Lower back pain is the worst. I have issues with arthritis creeping into my sacroiliac joint, and compounding that with inflammation in my hip joint and bursae, my lumbar spine hurting is the straw that broke the camel's back. I couldn't take anymore. I had to do something. So I went searching for answers. I went to see a rolfer who specializes in structural integration, I started getting chiropractic adjustments more frequently.

Because I live in Central America, and don't speak the language, I rely on other ex-pats for help. I know two chiropractors and one rolfer. I used to go to the Peterson Wellness Center back home, and sometimes I was there once or twice a week for relief.

When I went visiting my family back in April, I went back to Peterson Wellness Center to get adjusted and got some x-rays. Dr. Norman took a look at the x-rays (see the image above) and explained how the first three vertebrae in my lumbar spine were straight, and had no movement. The last two vertebrae were overcompensating for the curve that was supposed to be there, ultimately causing excruciating pain.

I was given some exercises to do and came back to Panama.

Because back pain SUCKS, and is hard to go about your regular daily life, I have tried almost everything: Nikken Magflex magnets, Soothanol X2, icing, stretching, exercise, chiropractic and massage. I have not resorted to pain pills because I am petrified of getting hooked on them.

So, when I found out about the VacuPractor, I got SO excited. GUARANTEED TO WORK! Well, that is worth a shot, right? I looked forward to it arriving in the mail, and when it did, my husband used it first. He doesn't have low back pain, but he tried it anyway. He did not feel a difference, and I was so worried that when I tried it, it wouldn't work on me. I really was counting on this thing to help me!

My turn came. I followed the instructions, and I do have to admit that it was a bit uncomfortable for me to lay flat on my back without my feet or legs being elevated. Because I have arthritis in my SI joint, it isn't a good position for me, but it wasn't unbearable, so I stuck it out. When I got up after using the VacuPractor for 10 minutes I was IMMEDIATELY able to feel relief in my lumbar spine. (Unfortunately not my SI joint, but maybe eventually it will help with that once my lumbar spine is better?)

To me it felt like my spine and surrounding soft tissue was being massaged from the inside out. And I felt that way for hours afterward.

This is amazing. Honestly, for those folks who have lumbar issues, this is going to rock their world!

My lower back has been in a LOT of pain

If you have back pain you NEED to try this. I have used it 5 times already and am still amazed. There is a money back guarantee so if it doesn't work for you, just send it back. I had a lot of questions and they got back to me very quickly, so I rate their customer service at 5 stars.

Here are some videos of the VacuPractor that I got off their YouTube channel, to give you more information about how it actually works:

Where to buy? You can purchase on their website www.vacupractor.com or even on Amazon:




I recommend purchasing one and at least giving it a shot. With a money back guarantee, there is not much to lose. And less pain to gain :)

About Me: Hi! I am Rebecca :) I am the owner of Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. I love natural health and wellness, and I love to eat real food. :) 

I love my family, and my pets. I actually love all animals -- they are much nicer than most humans! I don't watch TV and haven't watched a movie in the theater for more than 9 months. I would much rather read a book!

I love to garden and make homemade products -- body butter, toothpaste, perfume, cheese, yogurt, etc. It tastes better when it's made from scratch!  Contact me here: sales@purifyyourbody.com

Mandala Yoga Massage Ball for Myofascial Release of Tension and Stiff Muscles

I received these massage balls in the mail and wanted to try them out. I am a perfect candidate for something that proclaims to help with pain because I am in constant pain in my muscles, joints and soft tissue.

They did not come with instructions, only linking me to their website, which also didn't have any instructions. Thanks to Google, I found some images and YouTube videos on how to use them.

I tried them out on my low back and also on my hips and feet. They are amazing!! Here are some tips for you:

• When you use them on your lower back, use both of them, equal distances on each side of your spine. It may hurt a bit, but once you relax it will feel better. Also, lifting my legs off the floor helped.
  
• Be careful when using them for your hips, hip flexors, IT band... as it can hurt!! in a sort of masochistic way of "hurting so good" -- try to be gentle, and remember to RELAX and breath. Hold it there for a bit as you feel the knots releasing
• The areas that you used them on will probably be tender (but relaxed!) the next day. Like any type of soft tissue release I recommend drinking a lot of water after use.
• This is pure heaven when you use them on your feet. I can see this working very well for plantar fasciitis and cramping feet. I have something wrong with my feet -- they cramp severely when I try to point my toes. I also have problems with fallen arches. If you start off slowly, then put more weight on your feet, it just is like a reflexology massage!

amazing feeling on the balls of your feet
(these are not my feet)

Here is a video explaining how they work:

Bulletproof Hot Cacao Recipe | Healthy Hot Cocoa | 15% Off Kiva Organic Cacao

Here is the recipe:

• 2 T each of carob powder and raw cacao powder
• 2 T of butter
• 1 teaspoon of gelatin powder (I use Great Lakes Gelatin)
• Pinch of Himalayan pink salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of homemade vanilla extract
• Stevia to taste
• Heavy whipping cream (to taste -- I usually put in 2 oz!!!)

I like mine sweet so I use about a half teaspoon of stevia and 12 oz of hot water, (I know this is bad, but I boil in the microwave right now). In the past I would either use a tea kettle or my Culligan water bottle that had a hot water dispenser.

I mix everything up (I melt the butter when there is 45 seconds left in the microwave and just stick it in the water that is heating up). Oh my this is SO good. And lots of healthy fats. I would add coconut oil as well, if I didn't already consume 2 T of coconut oil after I oil pulled and rinsed my mouth out in the morning.

You may be thinking "that is a lot of fat" -- it sure is. But fat is NOT the enemy. The latest Time magazine report even stated that healthy saturated fats are beneficial. They do not raise cholesterol and they do not make you fat. In fact, they are known to give your metabolism a boost, make you feel fuller longer, and be great for brain health. The ketogenic diet is one of the healthiest diets out there for many people.

I usually use the Anchor brand of butter (from New Zealand). It is one of the better choices where I live, and it tastes amazing.

Many of us have gut issues -- leaky gut, IBS, Crohn's disease, gut dysbiosis, and autoimmune issues that stem from the gut. The Great Lakes Gelatin powder helps with sealing the gut wall and healing it, so that is why I add it in. Homemade bone broth is the best way to get the gelatin your body needs to heal your gut, but at this time it is easier for me to buy it.




New research revealed that your gut bacteria breaks down and ferments the components in dark chocolate, turning them into anti-inflammatory compounds that benefit your health. Imagine the joy of chocolate lovers everywhere when they learned that dark chocolate was a SUPERFOOD!

A wide range of accumulating scientific research has linked chocolate consumption to over 40 distinct health benefits. The closer your cocoa is to its natural raw state, the higher its nutritional value; ideally, your chocolate or cocoa should be consumed raw (cacao).

I was given the opportunity to get some Kiva Organic Raw Cacao Powder and review it. Because I have purchased it before and use cacao every day, this was a no brainer for me.

15% Off Coupon

And, they are offering all my readers 15% off using coupon code KivaCoco on Amazon or on their website www.kivahealthfood.com (the coupon will work on both sites and expires August 30, 2014).


GO  GET YOURS NOW AND ENJOY THE HEALTHY HOT CACAO!

Detox Foot Pads Lighten Over Time

Here are some pictures of my detox foot pads when I started using them again after being lax for a couple months. I do need to explain that I have methylation issues (genetic) that cause me to not be able to detoxify as well as most folks, so if I am without my detox foot pads for awhile, they are super gooey. The progression below is over a period of 2 weeks, and sometimes multiple foot pads (up to 3) on each foot.

In normal cases, if I use the foot pads every night for 2-3 weeks all of the areas will become clean again except the toes. (Here are my thoughts on why my toes never come clean).

I eat a clean diet, avoid processed foods and use only natural personal care products and cleaning products for my home. I do get exposed to environmental toxins such as mold, pollution, etc which I cannot control. Every day life we are exposed to toxins. If I didn't live as "clean" as I do, I don't think 2-3 weeks would make my detox foot pads come back as clean as they were.

First night of detox

12th day of using the detox foot pads

Nutrient Dense Breakfast Smoothie With Matcha Green Tea

First thing in the morning after I oil pull and take 2 T of coconut oil, I make my "bulletproof hot cacao". This works well for me because it provides me with healthy saturated fats and a tasty treat of raw cacao to help wake me up, as I don't drink coffee.

 A few hours later I start to get hungry so it is time to provide my body with more nourishment and a ton of nutrient dense vitamins and minerals. So I make myself a fruit smoothie filled with the best ingredients. I overload it with tons of great stuff, so I know my body will be able to use what it needs:

Rebecca's Smoothie Recipe:

Frozen fruit
Matcha Green Tea powder
Macro Greens Superfood powder
Miracle Reds Superfood powder
Zeolite
Clark's Minerals
Diatomaceous Earth
Miracle II Neutralizer liquid
Nutiva Hemp protein powder

*Fruit Punch Koolaid (sweetened with Stevia)

*Honestly this is the worst thing in my kitchen. We use the koolaid packets and add filtered water and stevia to sweeten. I don't drink it plain (I prefer water or green tea) but my husband does. He will either drink soda pop all day long or Crystal Light, so this is a compromise I made with him since he refuses to drink water. There are still artificial colors and flavors, though. If you have another fruit juice you prefer, then you can use that. Absolutely no artificial sweeteners are allowed in my house!

If you know of any "koolaid" type drink mix that is a healthier option, then please let me know! I have tried making something similar with fruit teas, like raspberry tea, and sweetening it but my husband did not like it. For this smoothie that might be fine, though.

We live very close to one of the largest outdoor Farmer's Markets in the country (Panama). We get fresh papaya and pineapples, cut them up and freeze them on a cookie sheet before putting them in a gallon ziplock bag to store in the freezer. Usually 2 pineapples and one large papaya will last the whole week for us to make smoothies with, at a cost of less than $5 for the fruit.

I choose papaya and pineapple not only for the taste but for the digestive enzymes that are in the fruits.

The Matcha Green Tea powder has amazing benefits, making it an important part of my daily smoothie. It is high in antioxidants and gives me an energy boost. It has 137 times the antioxidant power of a single cup of green tea!




The Miracle Reds and Macro Greens are nutrient rich superfoods that are gluten and gmo free, and I can actually take them without reacting like I do with other powders that end up having artificial ingredients in.

I use the zeolite to help detoxify my body of heavy metals and I use the diatomaceous earth to help kill any parasites I may have in my body, and for extra silica for beautiful skin, hair and nails (and joints!)

I love the Clark's minerals and have been taking them for such a long time that I don't know what I'd do without them. I buy it by the gallon. The neutralizer from Miracle II levels out my pH and helps to alkalize my body.

The Nutiva Hemp Protein powder is all natural and has only hemp protein, no other ingredients. I do not like the taste of hemp at all, so mixing it in my smoothie hides the taste so I don't even know it is in there. I use half the recommended serving size.