Natural Deodorant - That Works!

Take a look at your deodorant and see if any of these are listed: aluminum, parabens, propylene glycol, phthalates or triclosan.  Chances are at least one of these is in there as they are all common ingredients in today's deodorants and antiperspirants.  Aluminum is a metal and is often used in antiperspirants to help block the sweat from escaping pores.  It has also been linked to breast cancer in women.  I don't want to scare you but ANYTHING that we put on our skin (our body's largest organ) WILL be absorbed by our body.  Parabens scare me - not only are they contained in an alarming amount of our body care products and makeup but the absorption of them can and will disrupt our delicate hormonal balance.  This can lead to things like early puberty in children and an increased risk of hormonal cancers among other things.  Propylene glycol is a little bit tamer; however, I feel that over time even this ingredient can cause damage to the central nervous system, liver and heart.  Phthalates have also been linked to a variety of health issues and they may even disrupt hormone receptors as well as increase the likelihood of cell mutation (birth defects).  Triclosan has anti-bacterial properties and is actually classified as a pesticide by the FDA.  The Environmental Protection Agency classifies it as a probably carcinogen.  Some companies are working to remove triclosan from their products, a positive step in the right direction.

So, what does this all mean and what can you do?  First off, the very places on our bodies where we put deodorant are right where our axillary lymph nodes are.  So what we put in that spot will be absorbed into our lymph nodes (and of course our body).  The axillary lymph node area filters the lymph fluid draining away from the breast area.  Since the job of the lymph nodes is to filter out "bad guys" like cancer cells, this can be an area that is susceptible to cancer and the spread of cancer. Not good.  Lymph nodes also filter out and trap bacteria, viruses, and other unwanted substances and wastes from our bodies and make sure that they are safely eliminated from the body.

You want to keep your lymph nodes working well and without any unneeded chemicals from deodorants that will be absorbed!!

After trying out various natural deodorants I've found an easy recipe that you can make at home.  Although not necessarily GAPS legal, if you are on GAPS and in need of a deodorant I feel that this one has better ingredients versus purchasing one.  Here it is:

Natural Deodorant

 

5 Tablespoons coconut oil

4 Tablespoons baking soda

4 Tablespoons cornstarch

5 drops tea tree oil (or other essential oil; I like lavender oil)

 

Mix together well with a spoon and put in a container.  Will last a long time and you can halve the recipe if you like.

 



One of the Most Healing Diet Staples

Bone broth, or stock, is a simple way to heal and seal the lining of the intestinal tract, is packed full of minerals, is excellent for speeding healing and recuperating from illness, can aid in the healing of joints, and is considered the "poor man's protein". The latter because consuming broth can decrease the amount of protein that we need in our diet and is very inexpensive to make. Bone broth also promotes healthy hair and nail growth thanks to the gelatin in it and is beneficial for our bones and teeth!

Making your own bone broth is quite inexpensive as you can use either leftover bones from a roast chicken or buy beef bones inexpensively from your local butcher. You can use bones from beef, bison, lamb, chicken, duck, goose, or fish. As for nutrients, bone broth provides you with important things such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, chondroitin, glucosamine and arginine. Yes, we're talking the same chondroitin and glucosamine that many people take as supplements for different forms of arthritis but at a much lower cost. Plus, bone broth just adds SO much delicious flavor to soups, rice, casseroles, etc.! I actually recommend just simply drinking it to clients who have digestive disorders. It is also one of the cornerstones of the GAPS diet and is sometimes the only food tolerated for some in their initial stages of healing.

Here's a basic, simple recipe that you can use to make your own bone broth but feel free to change according to what you have in your fridge and what you like!

Bone Broth Recipe 

Bones (preferably soup, shank, marrow, ribs, knuckle bones; if using chicken you can use the bones from a roast)
Filtered cold water to cover
1 T Salt
1 T Apple Cider Vinegar (important as it draws out the minerals easier)
Veggies such as onions, garlic, carrots, celery, parsley, thyme, rosemary, nettle or any other medicinal herb (optional)

1. Put the bones in a large stockpot or crockpot and cover with cold water.  Bring to a boil and skim off the scum that will rise to the top (if using a crockpot you can bring to a boil in a pot on the stove and then transfer to your slow cooker). Turn down to a simmer or low.
2. Add the vinegar and salt and vegetables (if using).  
3. Let the broth simmer on low for the following times: beef bones 12-36 hours (some people even cook for 48 hours), chicken bones 12-18 hours, and fish bones 6-8 hours. The longer you cook the bones, the more medicinal your broth will be.  
4. Use a sieve to strain out the bones and any vegetables.
5. Store the broth in mason jars or glass containers.  Once your broth cools it may become jellied.  This means you have a gelatin rich broth (this is a good thing!) and it will liquefy when heated.
6. The broth will keep for about 5-7 days in the refrigerator or can be frozen for several months.  You can freeze glass jars as long as you leave 2 inches of air space at the top. 
7. Use to make soups stews, sauces, casseroles, rice and to just simply drink before meals or anytime!