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Health & Beauty

What you put on your body is just as important as what you put in it!

| Health & Beauty | Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips | Uncategorized

Your skin is the largest organ of your body and since it is porous, it absorbs whatever you put on it. Healthy skin is vital for our survival both emotionally and physically. To boost these capabilities, we need to understand its role and importance in our overall health and learn how to better care for our skin. With everything from chemicals in the skin care products we slather on, environmental toxins and pollutants, harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, pathogens, antigens and UV radiation attacking it, skin needs to be in tip top shape to ward off illness and keep us healthy.

Homemade body scrubs are non toxic, easy to make, inexpensive and extremely effective at reviving over worked, dehydrated, tired out skin. Explore our Health & Beauty Blog Section with little D.I.Y. scrub wonders that are excellent at removing dead skin cells, leaving behind a healthy glow. Your skin will instantly feel soft and hydrated to the touch. The essential oils can be added to accentuate your mood, for example lavender to relax and sooth or grapefruit to awaken and invigorate the senses. The choice is yours, feel free to experiment.

The Rose recipe is one of my particular favourites, it is especially soothing and calming to the skin and the senses, enjoy!

Ingredients
1 Cup course sea salt or Himalayan pink
4 Tablespoons melted unrefined coconut oil
4 Tablespoons grape seed or almond oil
2 teaspoons Crushed Dried Rose Petals
5-10 Drops rose essential oil

Mix salt and oils together with a fork or spoon. Add the rose petals until everything is combined. Decant into a pretty glass jar and enjoy! Keeps for up to 1 month.

Love Lavender & Eucalyptus? Here are 5 Ways To Use Both

| Health & Beauty | Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


We may not sprinkle lavender buds between our sheets as was common in the 16th century, but this fresh, sweet-smelling herb is still used for bathing, laundry, natural remedies and more – and for good reason. There are many Lavender Oil benefits you may not know of, making it a wonderful kitchen remedy.

The origin of Lavender is believed to be from the Mediterranean, Middle East and India. The ancient Greeks called Lavender nardus, after the Syrian city of Naarda and was commonly called Nard. Lavender derives its name from the Latin ‘lavare’ meaning ‘to wash”. The Romans used Lavender to scent their baths, beds, clothes and even hair. They also discovered its medicinal properties.

The name “eucalyptus” on the other hand originated from the Greek word ‘eu’ meaning “well” and ‘kalyptos’ which means “cover”. This was originally derived from the “well-covered” bud caps that bloom and eventually fall off the tree when they are mature. Native here in Australia, eucalyptus trees comprise of around 90% of the forests. Below we look at lavender and eucalyptus oil uses and how they may benefit you.

Eucalyptus Coconut Scrub
Rejuvenate tired, dry skin with a blend of
1 cup sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil
5-7 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5-7 drops spearmint essential oil
1-3 spearmint leaves, optional

Scoop a tablespoon of the scrub into damp hands and rub them together. Apply to body and scrub in a circular motion until most of the crystals dissolve, focusing on rough areas such as elbows, knees, and heels. Rinse and repeat if desired. Follow with moisturiser.

Treat Sunburn
For minor sunburns, add 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil to 2 tablespoons of carrier oil and apply to area.

Linen Spray
Make drifting off to sleep so much sweeter with a relaxing linen spray. Mix 30 drops lavender oil with 3 tablespoons vodka and stir. Add 3 tablespoons water and pour mixture into a spray bottle.

Massage Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil or Jojoba Oil absorbs quickly, making it perfect for this use.
Ingredients
1/2 cup massage oil of your choice
20 drops lavender essential oil
Combine ingredients in a container.

All-Purpose Cleaner With Lemon & Lavender
Ingredients 1 cup vinegar
1 cup distilled water
30 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
Add essential oils and vinegar to a glass spray bottle and shake well. Add water and shake again. Shake before using, then spray on surface and wipe clean with a soft cloth.

Spring Cleaning 2018: Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds, you can grow flowers or weeds!

| Chemical Free Cleaning Services | Health & Beauty


It’s that time of the year again when spring is in the air, winter’s on its way out, and you’ve realised your home is in dire need of a spruce up. However, Spring Cleaning isn’t just about sorting through things and getting rid of clutter. It’s also about taking stock of who you are, and how others see you. It’s a chance to redefine yourself, to change expectations, and to remember that it’s never too late to recapture who you were, or to aim for who you want to be.

Here at Natures Army, it is our mission that everyone should enjoy the experience of a safe, chemical-free, non toxic cleaning service, and that no one should be exposed to the hidden dangers of harmful everyday commodities in their homes and environments. As a specialist chemical free cleaning company, we ensure that all of our services meet with the highest standards of quality and hygiene.

Click here to explore all our natural & green Cleaning recipes or contact us for a quote. 

Would you ever knowingly put Teflon on your skin?

| Health & Beauty


No way! But you could be doing it every day without realising. New research from the Environmental Working Group has found Teflon and other similar chemicals in nearly 200 personal care products, ranging from shampoo to shaving cream to sunscreen. These chemicals have been linked to serious health risks, but cosmetics companies are still putting them in the cosmetics we put on our skin every day. Europe has banned or restricted more than 1,000. We have to stay safe from Teflon and other harmful chemicals in our personal care products.

Teflon, or PTFE, is part of a questionable family of chemicals called PFASs that includes PFOA. PFAS chemicals are virtually indestructible and can cause serious health harms like cancer and birth defects. While PFOA has been phased out since these serious health risks were revealed, Teflon and other similar chemicals are still widely used – and new research is revealing that PFOA replacement chemicals may not be any safer. Out of the 200 products containing PFAS chemicals, 61 contain Teflon, including cosmetics like foundation, mascara, and even sunscreen. In cosmetics, Teflon may be contaminated with more dangerous PFAS chemicals that have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption and infertility. Risky chemicals like these have no place in our personal care products!

Most common Pesticides on Fruit & Vegetables 2018

| Health & Beauty

Strawberries remained at the top of this year’s Dirty Dozen™ list, taking first place for produce with the highest levels of pesticide residues. 99 percent of strawberries have pesticide residues and up to 22 different pesticides were found on a single strawberry according to EWG (Environmental Working Group). That includes the following:

Carbendazim (Hormone Disruptor)
Found on 16% of Strawberries

Bifenthrin (Possible Carcinogen)
Found on 29% of Strawberries

Apples ranked fourth on this year’s Dirty Dozen™ list with more than 80 percent of samples testing positive for diphenylamine, a chemical which is banned in Europe. Apples contain an average of 4.4 pesticide residues, so even pesticides found at low levels could pose a health risk.

Another surprising find on this year’s list is spinach. Although it came in second on EWG’s Dirty Dozen™ list, spinach has the most pesticide residues by weight. Spinach also consistently tests positive for some particularly nasty pesticides – like permethrin, a neurotoxic bug killer banned in Europe, and DDT, a toxic pesticide banned in the U.S.

How hazardous are the chemicals used on fruit and vegetables? Some are fairly benign. But others are linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental damage, hormone disruption and neurological problems. For those of us who don’t want to eat pesticide residues and who want to stop fumigants from endangering farmworkers and neighbours of farms, buying organic is a small price to pay. The transformation of strawberries from an occasional treat to a cheap and abundant supermarket staple should serve as cautionary tale about the consequences of chemically driven industrial agriculture.

So, we urge you to take the time to explore the Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce, showing the full list and charts of the “Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen” from the EWG 2018.

Don’t let smoke ruin your life & your home environment

| Health & Beauty

Smoking is a huge contributor of indoor air pollution and a particularly unhealthy, costly habit that increases the chances of house fires, and renders your home less desirable to live in and visit.

We are all aware of the serious, harmful consequences smoking poses to our overall health and fitness, however, we are less aware of the adverse and dangerous effects that second and third-hand smoke can have on our loved ones and the inside of our homes. A known human carcinogen, passive smoke is a combination of the smoke exhaled by the smoker and the smoke being emitted into the air from the tobacco product itself.

Cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke are extremely unpleasant for non-smokers and the odour seeps into almost every exposed crevice and corner of the house, clinging to ceilings, walls, floors, fabrics and furnishings, rendering it almost impossible to remove.

This smoke contains a cocktail of noxious chemicals and minute particles that over time, stain and discolour painted walls, ceilings, fabrics, soft furnishings and wallpaper. The poisonous haze penetrates deep into electronic equipment such as computers, iPads, DVDs, televisions, fans, air conditioning units etc., leading to dangerous levels of chemical, moisture-laden dust that eventually results in corrosion and breakdown.

Over extended periods of time, smoke will embed itself into everything in your home, damaging and destroying items beyond repair. To eliminate the risk of future detrimental health issues caused by inhaling and ingesting these toxic fumes, you must remove all second-hand smoke from your home immediately.

There is no risk-free level of exposure to cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke; it is harmful to everyone. And it is especially dangerous to babies and young children as their lungs, respiratory and immune systems are extremely fragile and still developing, offering less protection to the effects of passive smoking. Clearly, the impact to babies and young children is much more destructive.

Young children constantly exposed to passive smoking tend to suffer more frequently with coughs, bronchitis, pneumonia, croup and ear infections, and have an increased risk of developing asthma, compared with children of non-smokers. Babies persistently subjected to breathing in second-hand smoke, have a higher risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome.

Of course, it is not only babies and young children affected by passive smoking, but adult non-smokers are also highly susceptible to the harmful effects of inhaling second-hand smoke, increasing their chances of developing blood clots, strokes, lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory disorders.

Even pets are affected: not only do our four-legged friends inhale smoke, but the particles become lodged in their fur and are ingested when they clean themselves with their tongues. New studies have brought to light that persistent second-hand smoke may cause certain forms of cancer to mutate in cats and dogs.

Many governments are increasingly aware of the serious health risks posed by second-hand smoke and indoor air pollution and for this reason, have imposed comprehensive smoke-free laws, prohibiting smoking in public areas, including restaurants, workplaces and bars. This legislation will in time have a positive effect on our health and well-being, so let’s follow this example and quit smoking in our homes. Start by removing ashtrays and asking family members and guests not to smoke in the house when they visit. If they must smoke, politely ask them to smoke outside, away from the building. Creating a smoke-free environment is vital to purer, indoor air quality, and will make your home a safer, healthier and pleasanter place for you and your family.

Stale smoke is exceptionally difficult to remove and impossible to do so quickly. However, there are a few tricks of the trade to disguise its unpleasant odours.

To begin eliminating the stench and damage created by smoking in your home, open as many windows and doors as possible, allowing fresh air to flow through. Leave them open as long as possible as the fresh air will allow stale smoke and particles to dissipate, helping to cleanse the air.

Scrub walls and floors, wash curtains and other washable fabrics, allowing them to dry outside in the sunshine. Spritz upholstery with a home-made fabric freshener, clean all windows and glass, and spray around one of the delightful home-made air fresheners—a tea tree oil or eucalyptus formula is perfect at masking lingering odours. Sprinkle carpets and rugs with baking soda and leave for a few hours before vacuuming; this will soak up and neutralise stale smells.

The only way to remove smoke odour and de-fumigate your home completely is to begin thoroughly and systematically cleaning everything in your home. I know this process may seem a daunting, unachievable task, but begin slowly, with one room at a time, removing and cleaning wall hangings, curtains, blinds, soft furnishings, bedding, etc. You may even want to consider hiring a steam cleaner to thoroughly clean fabrics and upholstery.

The Wonders of Coconut Oil

| Health & Beauty

The original source of the coconut plant is unknown. Many believe its origins are in Malaysia, while others believe it originated from the north-west of South America. Wherever it began its life, the humble coconut, often referred to as “The Tree of Life”, has now spread worldwide with a huge global following.

The fruit of the coconut is light and water resistant allowing it to stay afloat on the surface of the water for prolonged periods’ of time. This has enabled the fruit to use passing ocean currents to travel and colonise itself far and wide. It now grows in over 70 countries, including Thailand, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.

Coconuts have been utilised in many forms for generations and significantly contribute to the economies of numerous countries, forming an integral part of the daily lives of millions of human beings. This versatile superfood can be used in a large variety of ways, as virtually all parts of the plant can be employed through eating, cooking, baking, cleaning, lubricating, moisturising and producing brushes, ropes and fishnets.

The fruit was discovered by Portuguese explorers who located it growing on islands in the Indian Ocean. The word coconut was derived from the Spanish and Portuguese word “Coco” meaning “grinning face”, as the explorers believed the fruit to resemble the smiling face of a monkey, due to its three dark holes. Subsequently, when Marco Polo stumbled across the fruit on his travels through India, he named it ‘Pharaoh’s nut’.

In the 19th century the coconut became common in Europe, featuring in local markets and coconut shies at fairs and side shows.

Today the coconut is renowned for its culinary and cosmetic benefits. These are delivered in numerous forms (water, milk, meat, sugar and oil), heightening its present day global importance. Not only are coconuts highly nutritious and enriched with vital vitamins and minerals, but they also contain a wealth of healing properties.

The coconut has been hailed as a “superfood” and is a popular addition in traditional and modern medicines to treat illnesses such as colds, coughs, sore throats as well as more serious complaints including, influenza, measles, typhoid and tuberculosis. It is also believed to be a strong aphrodisiac which keeps the reproductive system in check.

The oil of coconuts is particularly beneficial, as it moisturises, softens and relaxes the body, boosts the immune system, increases the body’s resistance to infections and can reduce epileptic seizures. In addition, coconut oil is an extremely useful cleaning product, as it dislodges dirt, diminishes scratches and imperfections, hydrates aged, dried-out wood and fragrances the house.

Dairy, dairy quite contrary

| Health & Beauty

For years mankind has been repeatedly educated to the multitude of nutritious benefits and virtues of dairy products, especially their high calcium content, which enables our bodies to grow big and strong and is essential for healthy bones and teeth. It is not surprising that we consume it in abundance; feeding it to our babies, soaking our breakfast cereals in it, and adding it to our morning cuppa. Therefore it seems confusing and conflicting that nutritionists are now warning us to steer clear of dairy products, claiming we should no longer be consuming them, and people are beginning to banish dairy from their diets. So what is the problem with dairy products all-of-a-sudden?

Well, conventional farming of dairy cows has changed over the years and today’s herds are injected with synthetic growth hormones to increase their size and milk production. In addition to this, the cows are often kept pregnant, resulting in unnaturally high levels of oestrogen, progestins and androgens, as well as dangerous levels of genetically modified hormones, all of which are then passed into the milk. Recent research has revealed that synthetic hormones, such as Bovine in dairy products, have been linked to a whole host of conditions and diseases, including breast and prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes, gynecomastia, eczema, asthma and weight gain.

I am not going to advise you to ditch dairy completely as for many people this would prove impossible; however, I will offer you a few instrumental guidelines to follow.

1. Always purchase organic, chemical and hormone-free, high-quality dairy products; including milk, cheese, butter, cream, yoghurt, kefir, etc., produced from pasture-raised, grass-fed cows. They really are worth the little extra cost as they do not include the dangerous synthetic growth hormones that conventional dairy products contain.

2. Stop buying low-fat options. Contrary to popular belief, low-fat dairy products are actually the worst choice. Due to the method of processing, many of the nutrients are lost and then replaced with fillers such as sugar. Full-fat dairy, however, has been linked to a reduced risk of obesity and type-2 diabetes.

3. Try non-dairy alternative milk, derived from nuts such as coconuts, almonds and macadamias – they really are delicious and a refreshing change.

Our favourite natural Health & Home Remedies

| Health & Beauty


Unfortunately we can not always avoid getting sick. So thank goodness for these wonderful natural food remedies that have the power to help us get through an illness with the minimum of distress.  It is so important that we are always kind to ourselves, even more so when we are feeling a little under the weather. Rest when your body tells you to and listen to the signs it gives you.

One of the main building blocks for life is water, therefore we should be aware of just how important it is to keep our bodies hydrated. Don’t forget: Two-thirds of our body weight is water – so by the time you feel thirsty, you have actually been dehydrated for up to an hour!

Cold & flu Remedy
Mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of honey in 1 cup of hot water and drink three times daily to break up mucus congestion. Diluted lemon juice in hot water can help to relieve a fever. Elderflower, also helps you sweat. And it happens to be good for other problems associated with flu and colds. To make elderflower tea, mix two teaspoons of the herb in a cup of boiled water and let it steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the elderflower. Drink three times a day as long as the fever continues. Soothing treat: cold grapes provide hydration.

Sunburn
Look in your fridge for instant relief.  Simply blend plain yoghurt with cucumber and apply directly to the skin or if you do not have any yoghurt try applying a grated potato poultice to the burn area. A compress of cold milk is also highly effective. For sunburned eyes, apply cucumber slices, grated raw potato, apple, or chilled chamomile tea bag poultices.

Shingles
With an inflammatory condition such as shingles, it is wise to eat foods that cool the blood, mostly fruits and vegetables. Mung beans, apples, beetroot, carrots, cucumbers, lemon, and water are all effective. Drink 1.5 litres of beetroot, celery or cucumber juice daily (unless pregnant) to alkalise the body and cool inflammation internally.

Haemorrhoids
Blueberries, blackberries, cranberry, raspberries and cherries all contain flavonoids that strengthen the walls of veins. It is also helpful to take a supplement of 500 mg of bioflavonoids plus rutin (bioflavonoid, or plant pigment, that is found in certain vegetables and fruits) daily to strengthen capillaries.

Bruises
Consume plenty of vitamin K-rich foods, such as green leafy vegetables, which improves blood-clotting ability. Nettle tea is also high in vitamin K. Drinking Nettle tea daily can help if you bruise easily.

Healthy Spring Skin Tips & Tricks for the New Season

| Health & Beauty

Spring signals the end of winter and marks the time when flowers and trees begin to blossom and bloom, and the sun shines for longer, warming the earth! It is indeed a beautiful time of the year.

That is why after the harsh winter weather coupled with months of dry indoor air your skin is likely  feeling a little under par! Even if you were extra vigilant with your beauty regime and kind to your body during those dark days, your skin may still need a good freshening-up session or two.

So it is time to get your skin looking and feeling healthy and radiant again with these healthy skin care tips:

Wake up with an energising morning scrub
Start your day by mixing a few tablespoons of coffee grounds and sugar with a little bit of shea or coconut butter. Take this mixture to the bath or shower and gently rub on your skin. If you’re a coffee lover, you’ll love how the aroma instantly wakes you up and energises you for the day. The coffee combo with sugar removes stubborn dead skin cells that can accumulate on your body during the winter months and the shea/coconut moisturises your body for a healthy radiant glow.

Sun protection is a must!
Springtime is actually a high risk time for sunburns and sun damage. Although the weather is warmer, it’s still so mild you might not feel how strong the sun is. Apply a safe non-toxic sunscreen every morning and reapply it again before any outdoor activity during the day.

Try an eye cream
Because the sun’s more prominent in the spring, people are more prone to squinting. To combat the fine lines and wrinkles that can form around the eyes, try a natural organic eye cream with a high concentration of antioxidants and vitamin C to plump up the fine lines and wrinkles that have already formed. Also always ensure you wear your sunglasses when it is sunny!

Re-evaluate your cleansing routine.
Spring is all about cleansing and renewal! It’s also a good time to make sure your facial cleansing routine is top notch. Your routine should include a nourishing cleanser, a toner or facial mist and a moisturiser. Sounds simple right? It is. Making sure your routine is simple is key to sticking to it consistently and revealing beautiful skin daily.

Try Meditation
Live a happier, healthier life with just a few minutes of meditation a day. Meditation has remarkable benefits for your health and well being. It helps you to gain clarity, focus, balance and increase happiness, emotional stability, reduce stress and increase intuition. Need a little help to get started? Try the “Headspace” app with some free daily sessions.

Get outside and enjoy some fresh air
Spring is the perfect time to get outside and reassess your exercise routine. Sunshine is healing in so many ways, and this is certainly true for the skin. It’s never a good idea to spend excessive amounts of time in the harsh midday Summer sun. Like all things in life, sunshine should be enjoyed in moderation. So take it easy not to burn!