Best Non-toxic Ways To Whiten Your Teeth

Between the copious amounts of coffee and my love of a good red wine, my teeth aren't always at their brightest. I use baking soda to whiten mine - and when I remember to do it often, it works like a charm! Read about this and a few other ways to whiten teeth naturally in this guest post from Shannon Kaiser!

Having white teeth is more than just feeling good. Although white teeth can give people more confidence, it can also improve your health. White teeth can help people feel healthier, because healthy gums and teeth are a sign of your well-being and that you're taking care of yourself. The human mouth is often reflecting the window into our overall health, most diseases can be prevented through good oral care like brushing and flossing every day.

Most teeth whitening processes will use toxic chemicals and laser beams. Upon doing a little more research you can see that there are natural ways to whiten your teeth and get a brighter smile. These tips will help you reach that goal.

Use baking soda

Baking soda is a staple in some advanced care toothpastes that are found over-the-counter. It's also found in many people's cupboards. Adding a little baking soda into your oral care routine for up to a week will help prevent teeth from staining. Add baking soda to your toothbrush when it is applied to the enamel, it can remove stains is a gentle way. To remove surface stains such as coffee or wine try adding baking soda.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an ancient treatment that is used for many different health reasons including benefits for your oral health. Oil pulling can improve your teeth and it will help you have healthy pink gums. It can be added to a morning routine easily, you will get whiter teeth and overall detoxing of the body when you do it regularly.

Eat Berries

Eating berries such as strawberries, that have red color can help whiten your teeth. This is because the natural ingredient of acid is found in strawberries and it removes stains naturally and effortlessly. Vitamin C is found in most berries and it can remove plaque from your teeth. Eating berries is a tasty way to get your smile brighter.

Drink Water

Drinking water and rinsing your mouth out after you eat meals can help prevent cavities. It's important to drink enough water every day but when you eat bright colored foods, rinsing your mouth with water right after you eat will help improve your oral health. Many people choose to brush their teeth after every meal this can also improve the shade of your teeth.

Use an Electronic Toothbrush

Using an electronic toothbrush is one of the best natural beauty buys. They help can gently remove stains and they will help remove plaque much better than a manual brush. It will also help improve your teeth's color so they would stay whiter much longer. In fact using an electronic toothbrush will remove stains and also keep your teeth healthy.

Think of an electronic toothbrush like a mini dentist cleaning every day. It may feel like an investment at first but it's completely worth it in the long run, saving on dental bills and also improving your gums and teeth.


Shannon Kaiser is a wellness writer who has experimented with all of these tips. Her teeth are white and she gets many compliments on her smile. She goes to TenderCare Dental, a Dentist in Hillsboro for routine teeth cleaning. 

7 Health Benefits Of Eating Nuts

I love snacking on almonds, especially in the spring & summer when heavier food isn't too appealing. There are actually a ton of health benefits to eating nuts - in this guest post, Alex L. shares seven..

Should you ever find yourself at the grocery store late one night, searching for the perfect snack amongst the shelves stockpiled with jumbo bags of potato chips and sweets loaded with corn syrup, keep in mind the one that benefits your heart and body. Nuts are loaded with a mixture of nutrients, ranging from potassium and copper to vitamin E and magnesium. Let’s take a look at seven ways nut consumption promotes a healthier body...

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat

Different types of nuts contain different amounts of fat. However, not all fatty foods lead to obesity, but this is a typical belief held by the public which has placed a negative image on nuts. Increased nut consumption has not been known to have any kind of detrimental effects on one’s weight. Nuts—like salmon—are high in omega-3 fatty acids. This has the potential to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. What makes the fat in nuts so unique is that it is monounsaturated fat, a fat similar to the kind found in olive and canola oils. Nuts are also high in polyunsaturated fat, a fat which can lower cholesterol levels.

Calcium

Calcium is an important element in the breakdown of amino acids. Any diet where someone takes in high levels of protein should be balanced with plentiful amounts of calcium. This will help the body break down amino acids more efficiently. Calcium also helps blood vessels expand and contract, allowing for better blood flow within the bloodstream.

Phytosterols and Fiber

Phytosterols, also known as plant sterols, are plant molecules which occur naturally in various types of food (including nuts) and are similar to cholesterol. Their job is meddling with cholesterol absorption in the intestines by grabbing on to cholesterol receptors in the body. As a result, less cholesterol is absorbed into the bloodstream and the cholesterol levels in the blood are greatly diminished. Nuts are excellent sources of fiber as well, which help lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels.

L-arginine

Nuts are efficient in L-arginine, an amino acid which has the ability to improve the functioning of blood vessels by relaxing them and making them more flexible; this cuts out the chance that blood clots will form in the vessels and possibly slow down the flow of blood. L-arginine is an immune system booster, helping the body heal wounds quicker while also promoting the release of hormones.

Vitamin E

Finally, nuts are key providers of Vitamin E. This is one of its most powerful antioxidants; it seeks out and counteracts chemicals that have the potential to harm body tissues and red blood cells. It promotes healthier skin, proper function of the immune system, and help stop the development of plaque in the arteries that can lead to chest pains, coronary artery disease, and heart attacks. Nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, and peanuts are high in servings of Vitamin E.


About the Author


This article was written by Alex L. from Rank Executives. Alex recommends New Urban Farms for the best wholesale nuts and dried fruits online.

Save on Natural, Eco-Friendly Food, Beauty + Goodies at Abes Market! Get $10 off $25 - Today Only!

I'm really excited to share this deal from Abe's Market today! For the rest of the day (5/21/2013) only you can save $10 off any purchase of $25 or more using the coupon code ECOSPRING.

What I love about Abe's Market is that you can find pretty much whatever you need for your natural home:

• Baby & Kids
• Food
• Gluten Free
• Beauty
• Health
• Fashion
• Home Decor
• Housewares
• Green Cleaning
• Pet Care
• Gifts

So, save on some groceries, snag some goodies, or pick up an eco-friendly Father's Day gift!

Click here to shop Abe's Market now.

My top picks? Here are a couple... :)

Essential Oils! You know I'm obsessed. Abe's Market carries Aura Cacia, which is my favorite brand!

Food! Lot's of great options here: snacks, baking supplies, condiments + gluten free foods. Doesn't get much better than cheap, healthy groceries!

See what you can find at Abe's Market! The coupon code is good until the end of the day, so get your $10 off whatever your crunchy little heart desires! 

How to Make Your Own Dried Fruit

Fresh fruits and berries galore are up for grabs when the weather warms up, making healthy snacking a little bit easier and more delicious! In-season fruit is healthier, cheaper, and yummier so get it while the gettin's good!

You can even plan ahead and buy berries and fruit in bulk while they're in season and preserve them to eat healthy all year round. Drying is one way to do so - it's simple, economical, and requires little in the way of special equipment. Because there is no long cooking involved, drying fruits preserves more nutrients than canning.

And kids looooove it. In fact, I don't think my 3 year old really knows the difference between dried berries and candy. You can dry fruit whole, sliced, chopped, or as fruit "leather." Here are some of the basics of dried fruit.

Equipment

You can dry fruit using very simple implements you probably have on hand, or you can use more specialized equipment. If you live in a hot, dry climate, all you need is a screen, a cloth, and the sun. More humid climates require an oven or a home dehydrator. Even in a humid climate a sunny day may do the trick - you can even dry fruit in your parked car with the windows cracked.

Kinds of fruit

Nearly all fruit can be dried by one method or another, as long as it is just ripe, not overripe. If your fruit is already overripe, you can use it to make fruit leather.

Preparing the fruit

Technically, you don't need to do anything to the fruit besides dry it; but steam blanching for 2-5 minutes can increase the shelf life of the fruit by destroying decay-producing enzymes. And dipping the fruit in various types of solutions can enhance color retention. A universal dip that works for all fruits is made by mixing 2 tablespoons of powdered ascorbic or citric acid (or five 1-gram vitamin C tablets, crushed) with 1 quart of water. Dip fruit for 5 minutes.

Methods of Drying Fruit

Fruit leather
Berries, apples, peaches, and bananas are good choices for fruit leathers. Puree seeded, pitted, peeled raw fruit in a food mill or blender and pour it no more than 1/4" deep onto a parchment-paper lined cookie sheet with sides. Dry the puree in a 135 degree oven for 8-10 hours. Then, turn the leather out onto another lined cookie sheet, peel off the original parchment paper, and continue the process for another 8-10 hours. You can use a spoon handle to keep the oven door cracked so it will not get too hot.

Sun drying
Nearly all fruits lend themselves to this method. You will need some sort of screened frame, which you can make yourself by stretching screen or cheesecloth over old picture frames. If you use window screens or other metal screening, lay a cloth over the screen before placing the fruit on it. Cover the fruit-covered screen with cheesecloth or another screen to keep away insects and birds. Bring the screens in at night. After about two days, turn the fruit and continue leaving it in the sun for another two days.

Commercial dehydrator
Expect to pay anywhere from $35-$250 for a dehydrator, depending on the size and brand. With that variable a price range, you can probably find one that fits your needs. They do, of course, use electricity.

Oven drying
You may want to use an oven thermometer in order to get the right oven temperature, 145 degrees, which will need to be maintained with the oven door ajar (for circulation and temperature regulation). It will take 4-12 hours for the fruit to dry completely - dry small batches at a time or it will take a long time.

Preservation/packaging

Once your fruit is dry, place it in airtight containers such as glass jars or zip-top plastic bags. Light and moisture destroy dried fruit quickly, so put such containers into a paper bag in a cool, dry place.

That's all there is to it! Will you be drying any fruit this year?

Eat, Play, Love: A giveaway from ibody science!

One of my favorite natural first aid and skin care companies, ibody science, is offering a really awesome giveaway right now that I wanted to share with you all!

3 winners will be selected on Memorial Day!

The grand prize is a bundle of natural goodies to celebrate Spring!

• box of skin solution towelettes
• 1 oz. skin solution
• 1 month supply foot solution
• beach towel
• large organic dark chocolate bar

2 runners up will receive a fabulous prize package too!

• .5 oz skin solution
• 1 month supply foot solution
• tiddly winks game
• small organic dark chocolate bar

Entering is easy-peasy: like, share and enter your email address for a chance to win one of these three prize bundles - click here to enter the giveaway on Facebook.