This syrup is simple to make and keep on hand for topping any sort of dessert, or adding to cold water for a refreshing soda.

Note: Adding the maple syrup to the berry mixture before fermenting yields a more fizzy, less sweet syrup.

One of the most common emails we see here at Simply Pure By Salisha is from people switching to new, cleaner routines and not getting the results they were hoping for right away. So, today’s Skin Saving tip for those transitioning into green beauty is to remember, many things can disrupt your transition from conventional to clean, however, one major cause, that we see almost daily, is that people are still using irritating products alongside their new, much gentler options OR, they are not using their new products exactly as directed.

While we never insist people buy everything  at once, we do strongly urge you to at least swap out the same areas of the skin together as using an irritating cleanser but then using a gentle lotion over, can sometimes be pointless as you are still irritating the skin with the harsh cleanser. When it comes to your face, it is most ideal to stop everything conventional entirely! Literally stop everything, and allow your skin that time to adjust, detox and rebalance. 

Many do not want to do this as they may have just purchased items or they’re not ready to give up their favorite lotion quite yet and that is fine, but we would suggest waiting to switch when you’re ready to fully commit as we can not guarantee the best results while irritating products are still being used and we hate to see customers waste money! So, our biggest skin saving tip would be to swap out items entirely, per skin region, to get the most bang for your buck.

Best Items To Swap Right Away

Ideally, you want to swap out entire regions together and if you can not afford to do it all at once, start with just a few simple items! For example, the face you really want to swap everything at once but if you can’t financially do that, start small! A gentle cleanser, moisturizer and exfoliator will take you a long way! Not sure where to start? Fill out our FREE Skincare Analysis form for a consultation with our licensed nutritionist by clicking here.

Below are some examples of regions we swap together, in order of importance, in our opinion.

1. Face- Cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, masks, SPF, face makeup, face wipes, anything that touches the face!
2. Body- Body washes, lotions, scrubs, detergents.
3. Hair- Shampoo, conditioner and hair care, as your scalp is a large area of skin.
4. Makeup- Things like eyeshadows, blushes, bronzers, brows, mascara, polishes can be done when you have the funds. They are important swaps, but the above is the priority for us!

Green Beauty Routines Can Be Disrupted Due To Many Reasons, The Main Ones Are

• Hormone disrupting medications like birth control.
• Pregnancy or hormone imblanances, in general.
• Untreated or underlying health issues and stress.(Contact Salisha for a Free nutrition consultation)
• Still using prescribed, topical medications like Retin A.
• Still using conventional skin care items, even if it’s just 1 item, it can throw things off significantly.
• Still using irritating face makeups that sit directly on the skin, foundations, powders, concealers
• Diet. If you are using a totally clean routine and are still suffering from breakouts, we encourage everyone to seek nutritio al help from a Holistic Nutritionist. A simple Biomeridian Test can easily identify what is causing stress to your system. Dairy, gluten, meats, eggs, some nuts, soy are also common trigger foods.
• Not following exact directions. We often see people overusing their new products. Using treatment soaps or chemical exfoliators more often than needed can absolutely irritate the skin
• Start with our Brightening Facial System to see for yourself how wonderful green beauty products can truly be for your skin and health!

Probiotics have been in your system from the very moment that you were born. When you travel through your mother’s birth canal during delivery, that’s when you were exposed to your mother’s bacteria for the very first time. This event started a cascade of events inside your gastrointestinal tract, your GI tract, and it started to produce good bacteria.

This rich gut microbial community is referred to as the microbiome, which plays a vital role in your immune system and overall health.

Now here’s a fun fact. The human brain weighs about three pounds, and a healthy human body will have about 3.5 to 5 pounds of probiotic bacteria and microbes. So, our bacteria are heavier than our brain, and they’re found primarily in our digestive system.

Did you know that our digestive systems are the second largest part of the neurological system? It’s called the enteric nervous system, and it’s located in the gut. That’s why it’s called our “second brain.”

In the past, the appendix was largely thought to be useless. But in 2007, Duke University researchers observed that when the body was under attack by pathogens, the appendix would release probiotic bacteria that would perfectly counter the specific type of invaders. Pretty cool, huh?

It’s vital to understand that the type and the quantity of bacteria/microbes in your gut interact with your body in ways that can either prevent or encourage the development of many diseases. The ideal ratio between the bacteria in your gut that are “good” is about 85% good and 15% “bad.” Maintaining this optimal ratio is essential for good health.

If this ratio gets out of balance for any reason, the condition is known as dysbiosis, which means that there’s an imbalance or too much of a certain type of fungus, yeast, or bacteria, that affects the body in a negative way.

By consuming certain types of probiotic foods and supplements, you can help bring these ratios back into balance. Remember? 85% good, 15% bad.

Not only does more than 70% of the human immune system reside in the gut, but the intestinal immune system produces more antibodies than the rest of the body put together. As a result, gastrointestinal secretions are rich as breast milk in health-promoting and disease-preventing factors.

Interestingly, the colostrum that you would get from mother’s milk has about 40% probiotic content.

Historically, we had plenty of probiotics in our diets from eating fresh foods grown from good soil and by fermenting our foods to keep them from spoiling. However, due to dangerous agricultural practices like soaking our foods with chlorine and also because of modern conveniences like refrigeration, our food contains little to almost no probiotics today, and most foods actually contain dangerous antibiotics that kill off the good bacteria in our bodies.

Raise your hand if you’ve had at least one round of antibiotics in your life. Okay, I saw everybody raising their hand. Just kidding, of course I can’t see you! But antibiotics are commonly used to kill infectious bacteria or to prevent an infection from occurring or spreading, such as after surgery. There’s no doubt that antibiotics have saved lives. But unfortunately, today, they’re prescribed like candy.

Also unfortunate about antibiotics is they cannot differentiate between the bad bacteria that may be causing the infection and the good bacteria that belong in your gut. Instead, antibiotics come through like a tsunami in your system, destroying everything in their path. They take a toll on the digestive system.

Many people with health issues, such as thyroid imbalances, chronic fatigue, joint pain, psoriasis, and even autism and many other conditions, do not realize that these illnesses originate in the gut. If we have a sufficient supply of probiotics, our body goes into more of a rebuilding and an anabolic state. But if we don’t have enough probiotics, we go into a decaying and a rotting state.

So, what can you do to ensure that you have an ample supply of good bacteria in your gut?

#1: Be sure to include lots of sour and probiotic-rich foods in your diet. Apple cider vinegar, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, raw milk yogurt, natto, kombucha, lots of different fermented foods.

#2: Do your best to avoid substances that can destroy probiotics, like sugar, grains, GMOs, tap water, and antibiotics.

#3: Take a high-quality probiotic supplement.

Bottom line: Probiotics are absolutely essential for our overall health. We die from disease and we die from malnutrition if we do not have probiotics in our system. Your immune system will not function properly if you don’t have a sufficient supply of probiotics, and neither will your neurological system.

Here’s to your health. God bless.

For help from a professional click here.

By Holistic nutritionist Salisha Peters

Enjoy!

Salisha

Detox Your Body by Giving Some Love to These Organs & Systems

1 – Detoxing Your Liver

The liver is sometimes referred to as the “CEO of detoxification.” It detoxifies the blood, produces bile to digest fat, works to break down hormones, and extracts essential vitamins and minerals the body needs. In addition, your liver also helps to produce some major substances needed to keep your immune system and the rest of you working smoothly, including glutathione − the “mother” of all internally-produced antioxidants.

There are many factors that lead to a sluggish liver, including environmental exposure to toxins, autoimmune conditions, obesity, and viral infections, just to name a few. If you do not have adrenal fatigue, consider a daily coffee enema using pesticide and mold-tested coffee. In addition, milk thistle, dandelion, and turmeric in tea or supplement form can help boost liver function.

Finally, during the length of your liver cleanse, be sure to eliminate all sources of toxicity from everything you “consume,” from food and sundry products to violent TV shows and negative conversations. Consider that your liver may have the job of processing out harmful “toxins” on all levels. During your liver cleanse, make it a point to remove these elements from your daily experience.

2 – Flushing Your Kidneys

An organ that works hand-in-hand with the liver are the kidneys. If the liver is the great detoxifier, then the kidneys are the “great filters” since they help to siphon out toxins and waste from the body. Have you known someone (maybe even yourself) who has had the unfortunate experience of passing kidney stones? If so, you probably know that besides being extremely painful, kidney stones may be a huge indication that it is time to give these tiny but important organs some love.

You can help your kidneys daily by staying hydrated and also staying away from processed foods. For a cleanse of the kidneys, consider healing juices that can be incorporated into your daily routine. Cranberries have been known to cleanse the body of excess calcium oxalate, one of the main substances in kidney stones. Be sure to use cranberry juice free of extra sugars, other juices, and artificial ingredients.

To help with the taste, which can be quite bitter, you can dilute the juice with filtered water and add a little organic stevia to it. Drink as much as you can throughout the day. Other fruits and veggies that can be juiced and are also great for the kidneys include beet, lemon, cucumber, spinach, green apples, and pineapple.

3 – Limbering Up the Lymph

Another system that doesn’t get much attention but is vital for the processing and elimination of toxins is the lymph system. The lymphatic system is an overarching network of organs and tissues that transport white blood cell-containing lymph fluid.

Many people have impaired lymphatic systems due to lack of exercise and poor diet. In addition, millions more may have lymph nodes and other parts of this system missing. It is common in traditional breast cancer therapy to remove some or all of the lymph nodes around the breast area.

In addition, until the early 1980s, it was common practice to remove tonsils as well as adenoids in children. There was a time when doctors felt these tissues were unimportant, but science now knows they are a vital part of the lymphatic system.

If you are missing some parts of this detoxifying system, you may need to spend extra time making sure that it is moving smoothly and doing its job.

When the intricate and interconnecting vessels of the lymph system become clogged, a serious condition called lymphedema can occur. Before that ever happens, however, you can do your part to keep everything flowing by practicing simple actions every day, such as regular exercise and staying hydrated.

For a deeper lymphatic detox, consider dry skin brushing, getting lymphatic massage, doing your exercises on a rebounder, spending time in a sauna or steam room (the heat will help loosen up the lymph), and eating to support your lymph system. Some key nutrients for lymphatic health can be found in foods such as flax seeds, lemons, sea kelp, dark green veggies, radish, and garlic. Key herbs include dandelion, burdock root, parsley, goldenseal, and myrrh.

4 – Repairing Your Gut

If you are in pretty good health, detoxifying the digestive system may be as easy as boosting up on quality probiotics to maintain and strengthen your digestive tract. If you have eaten the SAD (Standard American) diet for a while, have had your share of stress, and lead a mostly sedentary life, odds are that your digestive system will need a little more care and attention to get it back to its optimum performance.

Like the liver, the digestive system is connected to the health of the entire body. For example, upwards of 80% of your immune system cells reside in your upper GI; if it is unwell, your whole body may be. Gut imbalance has been linked to autoimmune conditions, autism, diabetes, and even cancer.

The good news is that tons of research has been done over the last 10 years into the inner workings and importance of the “gut microbiome.” This means you will have a lot of support at your fingertips for your GI tract detox. And most experts now agree that a periodic “gut cleanse” is a good idea since this not only gives your gut a rest, it also helps to “heal and seal” the GI tract.

There are many different types of gut cleanses, but most consist of eating a super-clean diet of unrefined, unprocessed, gut-friendly foods that are high in fiber as well as nutrients and healthy fats. These may include “prebiotic” foods like raw sauerkraut and bone broth, as well as turmeric powder, ginger, coconut oil, and steamed vegetables.

A Natural Detox Is as Unique as You Are

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ways you can help to detox your body. Other popular types of cleanses or detoxes include gallbladder cleansing, skin detoxing, and emotional cleanses. Basically, anytime you decide to pare down, get simple, eliminate aggravating situations (which could be food or negative people), and focus on healing and repairing, you are helping your body to detox.

It may take a while to heal an imbalanced gut, a sluggish liver, or an inflamed kidney, so take your time and go at your own pace. Be gentle with yourself during your detox time. And remember, detoxing isn’t a race and it is isn’t “one size fits all.” It is a unique process that needs to be designed by you based on your body’s needs, ideally with the guidance of a holistic health practitioner.

Home made lavender lemon liquid laundry soap recipe

2 Gallon Bucket
2 Gallons Water
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Baking Soda
3/4 Cup Castile Soap 
15 Drops Lemon Oil
15 Drops Lavender Oil
2 1-Gallon Glass Containers

DIRECTIONS:

1. First, measure out 1/2 cup of the washing soda and pour into a 2 gallon bucket.
2. Add just enough hot tap water to cover the washing soda, and stir well to dissolve.
3. Measure out and pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the water/washing soda mixture, and stir well to dissolve.
4. Fill up your bucket all the way to the top with hot tap water, only leaving about 1/2 inch of room on top. Make sure you do this BEFORE adding in your castile soap, or you’ll have a bubbly mess!
5. Measure and pour into the bucket 3/4 cup of castile soap.
6. Pour 15 drops each of your favorite lemon and lavender essential oil.
7. Carefully stir everything together until well mixed.
8. Pour the detergent into jars or bottles. I used a soup ladle to transfer into my big jars, but if your bottle is thinner you can use a funnel.

TO USE: 

Pour 1/3 cup of the detergent in with your dirty clothes and wash as normal. Contents might settle to bottom or clump, but just give the bottle a good shake before you use it every time and it’ll be fine. The clumps will break up in the wash. Mixture may become clumpy when it gets cold, so store in a warm spot.

Your clothes will come out clean, chemical free, and smelling fresh!

We can all use a little “reboot” every once in awhile – and so can our organs. While there are many ways to detox your body naturally, these tips will help you get started if you’re not sure where to begin. They are easy, fast, and powerful ways to give a little love to your organs of detoxification. These are the important organs and systems that are responsible for moving toxins out of your body on a daily basis. Give one or more of these tips a try and notice the difference in your energy, mental clarity, stamina, and overall health!

But first, if you are planning any type of New Year’s cleanse or detox, there are some steps you can take to make any efforts to detox your body safer and more effective…

5 Steps for a Successful Detox or Cleanse

#1. Check with a professional. First and foremost, if you are dealing with a chronic condition or specific disease situation, be sure to consult with your natural health practitioner before starting any cleanse or detox program. The point of a detox is to heal and rejuvenate, not stress your body further.

#2. Plan ahead. Secondly, if you decide to do a detox, choose a timeframe when you know that you can really devote yourself to your own healing. Not every cleanse requires you to hermit yourself away from the rest of the world for weeks on end. Many detoxification plans allow you to function well, go to work, and take care of your normal responsibilities. Still, planning a detox during a super-stressful week at work or at home might not be the best strategy.

Before starting any specific plans to detox your body, you may wish to stick to a mostly-vegetarian diet for a few days. This allows your body to rest and prepare. Upping your water intake and adding a little lemon to your water a few days prior to starting your cleanse can also gently begin the process.

#3. Take your time. Especially if you plan on going “all out” and doing a full-body detox which will target each organ separately over a specific amount of time, remember to take your time. Detoxing isn’t something you do once and that’s it. Although a detox may occur in your busy life only once or twice a year, its effects will last longer if you work with your body, so don’t push it.

In addition, be sure to take the time to reflect on how your body feels and other insights you may have during your cleanse. You may want to record these in a health journal or notebook so you can look back at your progress.

#4. Work with your body. Remember, our bodies do have built-in mechanisms that help them detoxify on their own. When we do a detox of a particular organ, we are merely helping that organ function at its best. With that in mind, consider which part of your body you wish to target. The colon and the liver are two places that many people detox on a regular basis, but it may help for you to reflect on your own health situation first. Talking it over with your physician (if he or she is open to the concept), a natural health practitioner, a nutritionist, or a health coach first may be a sound first step for you.

#5. Keep an open mind (and heart).Finally, get ready for some major cleansing on all levels, especially if this is your first experience with detoxing. You may experience a roller-coaster of emotions and physical sensations as toxins are released, balance is restored, and the healthy cells of each organ begin to “wake up” to their full healing potential. Most unpleasant symptoms associated with a cleanse usually last just a few hours to a few days at the most.

If flu-like symptoms, headaches, fatigue, or mood-swings last for longer, consider slowing down or stopping your detox and talking with your health professional.

;

A Natural Detox Is as Unique as You Are

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ways you can help to detox your body. Other popular types of cleanses or detoxes include gallbladder cleansing, skin detoxing, and emotional cleanses. Basically, anytime you decide to pare down, get simple, eliminate aggravating situations (which could be food or negative people), and focus on healing and repairing, you are helping your body to detox.

CLEANSING AIDS

BENTONITE CLAY & ACTIVATED CHARCOAL POWDER

It may take a while to heal an imbalanced gut, a sluggish liver, or an inflamed kidney, so take your time and go at your own pace. Be gentle with yourself during your detox time. And remember, detoxing isn’t a race and it is isn’t “one size fits all.” It is a unique process that needs to be designed by you based on your body’s needs, ideally with the guidance of a holistic health practitioner.

Rosemary Mint Castile Soap

Thick lathering castile soap bars made with the purest ingredients. So simple to make and it's cold pressed so no cooking time is needed. All you need is oil, lye and time! Just be sure to run your measurements through this soap calculator and you're all set. These bars took about 5 weeks to cure fully and last a long time in my busy home. They have a nice mild yet thick lather and are excellent for all over use. This is my favorite recipe I've made and because it is so darn pure! 

I used a tiny amount of mint and rosemary which was not too noticeable as i don't like strong scents, even essential oils overpower my senses so I use them sparingly. If you want it nice and scented follow this recipe. Enjoy!

Rosemary Mint Castile Soap

 Ingredients

• 280 grams olive oil
• 100 grams sunflower oil
• 100 grams grapeseed oil
• 120 grams coconut oil

Lye – Water solution

• 83 grams lye (sodium hydroxide)
• 228 grams distilled water
• 1 OZ essential oils (I did 1/2 of each rosemary and half mint)

Instructions For Making Cold Processed Soap 

1. Measure and set aside your essential oils you will be adding to your soap recipe.
2. Dissolve the lye (sodium hydroxide) by pouring lye (sodium hydroxide) into water distilled water LYE INTO WATER. Make sure that you do this in a well ventilated room or even outside. Take your time to make sure that it is completely dissolved. Let cool.
3. Weigh out your oils using a digital kitchen scale.
4. Place all of your oils in saucepan and heat them on low-medium heat. Use your thermometer to monitor that the temperature does not go over 150F.
5. Remove from heat when your oils are between 120F and 140F.
6. Monitor the temperature of your lye-water solution with the thermometer. When the lye-solution and the melted oils reach about the same temperature (between 100F and 120F), add the lye-solution to the melted oils. 
7. Use a stick hand blender to mix the soap solution. You should be still wearing your goggles and gloves. Be careful not to splash. Continue to mix until you’re the mixture reaches trace (this means that the mixture has thickened enough that when you drizzle some on the top of the mixture, it leaves a trail (trace) on top).
8. Add your additives and scents (essential oils - fragrance). Blend all these together for a few seconds with a spatula or hand blender.
9. Pour the soap mixture into mold(s). Cover mold(s) with plastic wrap and cover/wrap these with towels for insulation.
10. Let the soap set for 24 to 48 hours or so before taking it out of the mold(s). Unmold and cut the soap into bar. Sometimes I put my molded soap in the freezer a few minutes to make it easier to unmold.
11. Place the soap bars on a covered rack to dry out and cure for a minimum 4 weeks before using them.
12. Enjoy your handmade soap.

What you will need - soap making equipment for Cold process.

• Rubber gloves
• Goggles
• Digital scale
• Thermometer
• Heat safe container with spout
• Glass mixing bowls
• Rubber spatula
• Measuring spoons
• Stick blender
• Saucepan
• Knife or soap cutter
• Mold(s) (soap mold. silicone bakeware, candy or candle molds, wood molds or hard cardboard boxes (mil cartons work) lined with parchment/freezer paper)
• Plastic wrap and a towel

 Measurements by Weight not Volume

Method:

• Combine coconut milk, glycerin and salt in a saucepan and warm.
• Remove from heat and add coconut oil.
• Add entire contents to footbath and soak tired soles.
• After massage with Whipped Shea Body Butter.

You may be wondering what is this bentonite clay everyone is talking about, if not you may already know what it is and use it regularly. If you are like me who loves their clay both internally and externally, then wonderful! You are one step ahead! So, for the rest of us..What is Bentonite Clay?

Bentonite clay is a natural healing clay comprised of minerals and its formed from natural volcanic ash, which was originally discovered near Fort Benton, Wyoming. Its very powerful and produces a negative electric charge when water is added to it, which aids in binding and removing toxins. When you mix water with the clay, the components alter in order to allow it to become a powerful tool to absorb toxins. This clay is commonly used for removing toxins, not only externally on your skin, but it can also work internally, something that many do.  

THE LITTLE SECRET THE COSMETIC INDUSTRY DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT.

For decades they have taken advantage of the power of Bentonite clay and included it in their premium skin care products. Now you can experience Bentonite Clay in it's purest from. Think this is all hype about an ordinary Clay? You may be surprised to learn Bentonite clay has such unique properties that it is a key element in the removal of nuclear waste. Seriously, it is that powerful yet it is safe enough to eat!

Harvested from volcanic ash in Wyoming. Our hand selected pure Bentonite Clay is 100% natural with only 1 ingredient: Calcium Bentonite Clay. It is free of additives, coloring, fillers, or perfumes. Our spa quality pure clay creates a luxurious mud mask that is safe and effective even for sensitive skin. As the clay gently dries on your face, you will feel it cleanse and rejuvenate your skin.

The negative ions of the clay draws excess oils and impurities embedded deep within the layers of the skin. It pulls residual toxins from the skin as it gentle exfoliates. The deep pore cleansing tightens and reduces the size of pores, leaving skin soft and silky. It diminishes blemishes, fine lines, and wrinkles and reveals your smooth glowing skin. Enjoy a weekly skin treatment mask for smoother glowing skin.

Usage

You can use it both internally and externally. It is commonly used to remove heavy metals from the body and to detox when mixed with pure, clean water. It's usually used in a shaker bottle with filtered water and couple tablespoons of clay, shaken and drunk throughout the day for a week on and a week off. Double the amount after week one. Use psyllium fiber to help with detoxing and keeping regular. 

When used externally, you can apply it to any area of your body, such as your face or feet. Some even apply it to their whole body or take a bentonite clay bath. Mix with water until smooth and apply to skin. Wait until its completely dry. Wash with cool water and moisturize. 

Hope you enjoy the many benefits of bentonite clay. You should include it in your natural care regimen and have it on hand for at home skincare. Have fun!