This section includes terms and ingredients that are frequently used and mentioned in my blog. It will be growing with time.
It is essential that you purchase these ingredients in good organic quality for best results and also as our objective is to avoid dangerous chemicals at all cost. So do spend a bit more money remembering that you are saving a lot more by not purchasing those chemical based processed products. In other words, invest in your health and in the planet!
Baking Soda is also called sodium bicarbonate. It should not be confused with baking powder, which only contains 30% of sodium bicarbonate. Baking soda is alkaline and can be used in baking, pest control, disinfecting, etc. Many natural solutions require baking soda and I therefore recommend that you always have it at home and that you directly purchase a bigger pack.
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with our development and reproduction, and may cause serious neurological, immune-system effects, and cancerous tumors. They are commonly found in personal items, medicines, cleaning products, canned foods, non-stick cookware, etc. Always check the ingredients listed before buying anything. Unfortunately, these endocrine disruptors are everywhere, even in so called natural and organic products. These are a few very common ones that you should memorize and avoid at all costs: parabens, triclosan, phtalates, bpa, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, PEG, petrolatum, etc.
Epsom Salt is also called magnesium sulfate and looks like thick salt. It is 100% natural and can be purchased at Walgreens (USA), at the pharmacy (Europe) or in the Internet (amazon). My recommendation is to buy a big pack of it as it tends to be more cost effective. Also, the recipes call for a large amount of it.
Fluoride is a highly toxic substance and should be avoided at all costs. Therefore do not purchase any product that includes fluoride (examples: table salt, tooth paste, etc.) If you want to inform yourself about the dangers of fluoride, click here
Honey is of course always natural, as it is derived from the nectar of flowers. It is however very often heated and processed for pasteurization. It is therefore important that you purchase your honey raw, organic, unpasteurized and ideally local. Honey does not turn bad.
Hydrogen Peroxyde (3%) is the only germicidal agent composed only of water and oxygen, and is considered the world’s safest all natural sanitizer. It can kill bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungus. It is also a sterilizer. It can be used to disinfect all your surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom, remove stains, and even to clean mirrors and stainless steel. It is a safe alternative to bleach. Hydrogen peroxide is sensitive to light, so it must be kept in an opaque bottle.
Salt should be purchased unrefined as it is high in essential minerals and lower in sodium. Avoid table salt at all costs, and avoid any salt with fluoride added. You don’t need to spend a fortune to buy unrefined salt. It is not necessary to go for the Himalayan pink or Celtic sea salt. Go local instead, and keep it unrefined.
Shea Butter is an absolute must-have. It is thick and solid at room temperature yet has a buttery rich consistency. Shea butter moisturizes, reduces inflammation and smoothes your skin. It has anti-aging properties and helps the collagen production. Please purchase your shea butter unrefined, unbleached and organic. Store away from direct heat and light. Shea butter does not turn bad.