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Practical Uses of Essential Oils Around the House
The benefits of essential oils exceed far beyond aromatherapy. When used around the house, essential oils not only keep the house smelling fresh and clean; they also reduce and treat fungal growth from various surfaces. Their subtle yet calming fragrance also helps relieve the stress of those who occupy the house.
Being natural, they’re also safer than most synthetic fragrances and can be used in various ways. Let’s take a look at some of the uses and benefits of essential oils around the house:
Essential Oil Uses in the Kitchen
You can get several benefits from using essential oils in your kitchen. Some of these are:
Disinfect Surfaces
Various essential oils such as lemon, lavender, tea tree, peppermint, etc., act as disinfectants when applied to a surface. You can make your homemade surface disinfectant for kitchen counters and cabinets using these essential oils. Drop a few drops of any of your preferred essential oil in a spray bottle. Fill the bottle with clean water and shake it every time before use.
You can use this natural disinfectant safely in the pantry as well. It will also keep the surfaces clean for you to chop vegetables or cut fruits. It will also make food items last longer in a germ-free zone.
Enhance Flavor in Food
If you want an extra kick of flavor in your food, you can add any food-grade essential oil for the purpose. Peppermint, thyme, ginger, oregano, fennel, rosemary, and cinnamon are some common essential oils safe for ingestion.
You can also benefit from essential oils such as lavender, cardamom, and wild orange by adding them to tea. The effects of these teas can vary from calming to energizing and can be taken according to one’s needs.
Since a drop of essential oil in food equates to a teaspoon of the herb, you will need to adjust accordingly.
Natural Pesticide in Kitchen Garden
Essential oils make safe pesticides for your kitchen garden. Using essential oils such as orange, cinnamon, lavender, rosemary, and peppermint can keep away bugs, snails, slugs, and other insects. They can also prevent fungal growth in the plant soil. Essential oils also keep the soil moisturized and prevent it from drying out easily.
However, essential oils do not provide any growth benefits to plants. Since oil and water never truly mix, essential oils are separated from the water after adding them to the soil. They will not be picked up by the plant roots either.
Natural Rinse for Produce
Since essential oils get rid of pests and fungus for plants in your home garden, they can also rinse off fresh produce you bring from the supermarket. All you will need to do is fill up your sink with clean water and add a few drops of lemon or wild orange essential oils to it.
You can also add half a cup of vinegar to this water as vinegar is also a safe disinfectant. Let the produce sit in this water for about 10 minutes before rinsing it thoroughly with fresh water.
Alternatively, you can make a disinfectant spray by adding the same ingredients to a spray bottle. Thoroughly spray this mixture on freshly bought produce, let sit for about 10 minutes, and rinse thoroughly before storing.
Essential Oil Uses in the Bathroom
Essential oils can be used in bathrooms for a variety of purposes. Some of these uses are:
Odor Neutralizer
Essential oils can be used in bathrooms as natural air fresheners. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to a scent diffuser and place them in your bathroom for clean air. You can get the same benefit by making a natural air freshener too.
Don’t forget to shake the air freshener before using it since oil and water tend to separate. You can keep it in your bathroom’s medicine cabinet for easy access.
Most people keep litter trays for their cats in the bathrooms too. If you have one in your bathroom for your furry friend, switching to a natural air freshener will be a beneficial choice. Compared to store-bought air fresheners, essential oils are much safer to use in the presence of pets.
Natural Tile Cleaner
Many citrus essential oils, such as lemon, wild orange, lime, and lemongrass, are excellent at removing grime and cutting down on the dirt. You can add a few drops of any available citrus oil to your store-bought tile cleanser for improved cleaning and a cleaner smell.
Surface Disinfectant
Eucalyptus essential oil and peppermint essential oil work as natural and safe disinfectants. You can use these essential oils as surface disinfectants on various surfaces of your bathroom, from the shower to the toilet to the bathroom counter. Their strong smell helps keep away bugs and insects as well.
You can use them by either mixing them with water or by adding them to a store-bought disinfectant.
Essential Oil Uses in Medicine Cabinet
Essential oils have been used as natural remedies for various everyday health concerns for centuries. Some of these are:
Cure for Sunburn
Chamomile, vitamin E, and vitamin C essential oils can help cure sunburns. These essential oils are commonly used in various sunscreens and sunburn healing ointments. You can benefit from the calming properties of these essential oils in a cool water bath.
Drop a few of each of these essential oils and let your skin soak its benefits and heal. Pat dry your skin after rinsing it under cold water. Repeat the process every other day to speed up your skin’s healing process.
You can also diffuse lavender oil in the air to treat sunburn. This unconventional method is a safe and popular way of helping the body heal itself. Lavender oil is safe to inhale and ingest and promotes healthy sleep.
As those with sunburn are advised to get as much rest as they can, lavender helps with calming them down and helping them sleep. The lavender essential oil also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help skin regenerate.
Natural Sanitizer
You can easily make a natural sanitizer with essential oils, aloe vera gel, and alcohol. Combine 3/4th of alcohol with 1/4th aloe vera gel and mix them well. Add 2-5 drops of your favorite essential oil to make it smell good.
You can also choose essential oils such as tea tree or wild orange to enhance the effect of your DIY sanitizer. Tea tree and wild orange essential oils are both great for treating and preventing fungal and bacterial infections. Since they are both rich in antioxidants, they can be safely used on the skin and promote new cell generations.
Relieves Pain
The anti-inflammatory properties contained by most essential oils make their use widespread in aromatherapy. Eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender essential oils are especially popular for this purpose.
It is important to mix these essential oils with carrier oils before applying them to the skin. When massaged onto the skin, they help relieve muscle pain and reduce redness and swelling. They also help irritated skin heal and induce a calming and soothing effect.
Natural Deodorant
Clary sage, cedarwood, lavender, lime, and lemongrass essential oils can significantly help control body odor.
You can also mix various essential oils to create a fragrance you like. Blend this mixture or a few drops of your preferred essential oil with baking soda to make a paste. Mix this paste with melted coconut oil. Keep stirring until the mixture sets. Apply a pea-sized amount of your homemade, all-natural deodorant to your armpits every day after morning and evening showers and before sleeping to see the best results.
Relieves Allergies
Inhaling certain essential oils such as sweet orange, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and cedarwood can help improve allergy symptoms. You can use these essential oils in aromatherapy practices to get the maximum benefits. Add one to two drops of each essential oil to the diffuser and take deep breaths in the clean, aromatic air. Repeat the process twice a day for a speedy recovery.
Essential Oil Uses for Improved Living
Besides the uses mentioned above, essential oils can also be used for several uses around the house. The easiest and most beneficial of these are:
Safe Replacement for Candles
Essential oils can make for easy and safe replacement of scented candles. Scented candles are very popular for their easy aromatherapy effects around the house. However, candles can be unsafe, especially with pets or kids around. They can also be dangerous in the absence of pets or kids if placed near flammable objects.
On the other hand, essential oil diffusers can provide the same benefits without any danger. Both classic diffusers with sticks and electronic ones are completely safe for use. They don’t pose any fire risk, even if knocked down by a pet or kid.
With an essential oil diffuser, you can easily prepare your room or the entire home to wind down in the evenings. You wouldn’t have to worry about leaving them unattended or a fire starting in your house. You can add enough water to keep it going and relax with a cup of tea.
Refreshes Trash Bins
The benefits of essential oils reach your trash can too. Don’t worry; you won’t have to throw away the essential oils for the purpose. Get a bunch of cheap cotton balls and toss one, added with essential oils, in your bin every time you put in a new trash bag in it.
You can choose the essential oil depending on the trash can’s location in your home. However, we suggest adding essential oils with antifungal and antibacterial properties, such as lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, and tea tree. These will not just make your trash smell nice but will keep it clean of any possible pests as well.
Refreshes Laundry
Add a few drops of your preferred essential oils to lint balls or dryer balls to make your laundry smell nice. It’s an easy way to make freshly washed clothes smell fresh and fragrant.
Keeps Away Insects
You can make a safe and easy insect repellent by using essential oils. The homemade insect repellent will be safe to use anywhere in the house, including pantry and kitchen cabinets and around children and pets.
All you will need for a safe insect repellent is some witch hazel or vodka, clean water, and drops of certain essential oils. We recommend using citronella, tea tree, and peppermint essential oils as their combination makes the most effective insect repellent. Pour everything in a spray bottle and shake it well before use.
Improve Self-Care Routine
There are numerous benefits of essential oils in self-care. Various essential oils can be used to treat different hair problems. They can relieve dandruff, get rid of head lice, promote hair growth, and make hair softer. On the skin, their benefits can vary from reducing acne to removing acne scars and from promoting new skin cell generation to making skin soft and supple.
To utilize essential oils in self-care, you will need to look for those best suited for your skin and hair types. However, rose, lavender, ylang-ylang, and chamomile essential oils suit almost every hair type and skin type and are easier to incorporate into any self-care routine.
Keeps Your Home Smelling Fresh
A refreshing and clean-smelling home can do a lot of good things for you. Depending on the essential oil you use, they can improve your mood and help you feel energized or calm. You will feel more at home at your home when it smells great.
Finally, don’t forget to take the necessary precautions while using essential oils. Though they are safe to use, they shouldn’t be used on their own without a carrier. After use, store them in a safe and cool place. Direct sunlight can affect the quality of essential oils, and you wouldn’t want such beneficial oils to go to waste!
Moreover, make sure to check the quality before buying. Always look for the country of origin on the label, a dark glass bottle container, and ethically sourced essential oils.
Staying Healthy During the Pandemic – A Comprehensive Guide
The covid-19 pandemic has already lasted longer than anyone anticipated. While the governments and scientists are doing their best to take the world back to the old normal, some research suggests that the pandemic can continue for another year or so. As much as all humans are always capable of adjusting to new environments as evolutionary organisms, the pandemic has brought many uncertainties that have made focusing on health a little challenging.
However, it’s important to stay hopeful. In fact, staying hopeful and active and eating healthy is all it takes for anyone to not let the pandemic get to them. Therefore, we have expanded on these three important actions and compiled a comprehensive guide on staying healthy during the pandemic for our readers to help them get through these challenging times. Let’s begin:
Tips for Eating Healthy During the Pandemic
Healthy eating habits alone can work wonders for most people in their pursuit of staying healthy during the pandemic. Medicine men from the past used to believe that gut and mind are related and that whatever one eats directly impacts their mind and mental health. While we now know that there isn’t a direct connection between the mind and gut, we also know that the whole body is interconnected and that what one eats affects one’s overall health.
However, we recommend staying away from guides that tell you what to eat and what not to eat. Every individual’s body is different and can have slightly different needs than others. Moreover, people can have food allergies or reactions and availability or accessibility issues that can make it very difficult to have one guide for all of humanity.
Eating healthy is more a habit than a task. Here are five tips that you can apply to adopt healthy eating habits no matter your individual dietary needs:
Avoid Overeating
It is very easy to keep on snacking when one is at home all day. Eating out of boredom is common among people. Portion sizes can also increase when one has all the time to eat, putting one on the road to obesity without realizing it. Due to the extensive availability of time and inaccessibility to food outlets during the pandemic, many people also picked up cooking and baking, which massively increased the portion sizes available to them. The US is already infamous for its serving size. There’s no need to add to them.
Include Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables don’t only contain fewer calories. They also contain several essential vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy, functional body. Swapping bread and rice with vegetarian options such as potatoes and cauliflower rice will keep meals filling, adding nutrients to them. Fruits make a great addition to any breakfast too. You can also swap processed snacks with fresh fruits or vegetables with yogurt dip.
Get Fresh Produce
Swapping fresh produce with canned produce is an easy method of staying healthy during the pandemic. If you can, try to get your weekly produce from the farmers’ market or directly from the farms. Fresh produce has a higher nutritional value than canned or dried produce. As fresh produce doesn’t last as long either, you will be motivated to consume it before it goes bad.
Turn Cooking into an Activity
The problems of boredom eating and eating junk food can both be resolved with this one habit. It will build up your cooking skills and limit fats, cheese, salt, and MSG in your food. It will also limit the portion size and let you spend time on something that will benefit your health.
Add Some Nuts
Nuts, dried fruits, and edible seeds work great as healthy and filling snacks. They are natural and much healthier than processed snacks, which carry high quantities of salt. You can also add nuts, dried fruits, and seeds to your breakfast bowls or desserts for some extra healthy crunch.
Tips for Staying Active During the Pandemic
People struggled to stay active before the covid-19 pandemic too, so it’s no surprise that fitness took a backseat for many when they weren’t allowed to gather together and motivate each other for it. Many others also find it difficult to work on their own or inside the home. Living in lockdown and being barred from seeing others also made several people not care about how they looked.
However, fitness and looks aren’t as deeply connected as many people. While it’s true that fitness makes one appear more attractive, it is more about one’s health than their appearance. Good physical health also helps with keeping mental health in check. It also directly improves vital bodily functions and lowers the risk of getting sick.
While it may be difficult for you to stick to an exercise routine in the pandemic, staying active in your day-to-day life can help you stay fit too. No matter your lifestyle and daily activities, the following five tips can help you stay active:
Take Kids to a Park
Taking kids to a park will allow everyone in the house to get away from the screens for a while and breathe some fresh air. If you don’t have kids, you can take your pet or just yourself to the park too. Think of it as an end-of-the-day break. Before the covid-19 pandemic, everyone would stay out most days and feel relieved to come home in the evening. Similarly, after working and studying all day inside the home, you can breathe some fresh outside air by going out. Ask a friend or neighbor to join you to fulfill your social needs too.
There are many ways to get some movement once you’re outside. You can choose to walk to the park if it’s not too far. You can also ask a friend or a neighbor to tag along and catch up on life with them while strolling or walking. Doing some yoga and light stretching in the park will also help you freshen up.
Go Out for Groceries
Going out for groceries is the easiest way to fit some movement into your weekly routine. If you live in a suburban or partially sub-urban area, you can take a walk to and from the nearest grocery store every week. If you like walking through the neighborhood, you can also divide your grocery trip into two or three grocery trips. Your body will be getting some much-needed movement, and your kitchen will always be stocked with fresh produce.
Take Active Breaks
Sitting in one place and working in front of a screen all day can get exhausting. You can break away from the screen and take an active break every hour. You can do some light stretching or indoor walking for a few minutes before getting back to the desk and continuing work.
Taking an active break every hour for a few minutes can do wonders for your physical and mental health. It will keep your mind fresh, and your body won’t develop issues like back pain or numbness of limbs.
Complete Chores Once a Day
Doing chores around the house is the most productive way of staying healthy during the pandemic. You will not only be moving around the house and adding to your daily footsteps, but you will be getting things done around the house too.
Set a fixed time for yourself to complete all chores around the house once every day. This fixed time can be early morning before you begin your professional work or studies, in the evening, or at night after completing it. Just ensure that you can focus fully on the tasks at hand while doing them.
You can get various chores around the house done at this time, such as washing dishes, folding laundry, putting a new load in laundry, picking up dirty dishes from around the house, sorting clothes placed outside, organizing your desk, organizing the home, watering plants, emptying grocery bags and stocking pantry, cutting up vegetables to be used the next or same day, vacuuming or dusting up your place, and cleaning all the surfaces. You won’t have all the chores every day, so you can make a list of three to five things that need to be done according to your home’s needs and then do one extra task each day.
You can put up your favorite playlist, a podcast, or an audiobook while you complete these tasks to help your mind wind down from the day. Once you’re done with all the chores, your home will look perfect, and you wouldn’t mind spending time in there.
Dance for Fun
Dancing is a great activity that can help you unwind, move your body, and be happy. After getting done with your daily work, you can play your favorite music and dance to its tune. If you are shy, you can dance alone in your room. Otherwise, you can include kids and elders in the house in this activity. You can dance however you please. If you don’t know any moves, you can check out choreography videos on YouTube on several songs.
Tips for Staying Motivated During the Pandemic
The uncertainties during the pandemic have led to many people developing fear and anxiety about the future. People forget that the future has always been and will always be unknown and uncertain. Our plans during the pre-covid-19 pandemic were halted by things other than a global lockdown and didn’t always work out either.
Life, everywhere, will always be imperfect. Humanity has lived through several pandemics and worldwide wars, yet it continues to survive and thrive. Let’s look at the three tips that will let you survive and thrive the current pandemic:
Build a routine
The global lockdown to contain the pandemic disturbed people’s routines and their lives greatly. The majority of the world’s population, including people of all ages, had a defined routine before the covid-19 pandemic. Most woke up in the early hours of the morning, got dressed, got breakfast, and stepped out of the house to go to their schools or jobs. After school and job, they had various activities that they kept themselves occupied with at home or outside. A lot of people traveled long distances throughout the day too.
However, when coronavirus spread worldwide and people had to stay home to keep themselves safe, almost all of their routines got greatly disturbed. People didn’t only have to stay home; they had to find ways of getting things done while staying home. Much everyday life became too dangerous or inaccessible in the lockdown, and people began overworking in hopes of making up for the affected economy. But as things calmed down, everyone realized that things would either go back to normal sooner or later or that humanity would find a new normal together. Either way, things will work out.
You can also make things work out for yourself by building a routine as you had one in the pre-covid-19 days. While it can be difficult to stick to a routine when you can do anything anytime you want in your home, building a routine is the best way to bring discipline and calmness into your life
Self-Care
Self-care has become more important than ever. People are finding unique ways to relax and take care of themselves. From ten-step Korean beauty routines to formulating personal products using essential oils, everything is trending these days. Creating some me-time every night and practicing some self-care will help you positively unwind the day. It will also let you practice much-needed self-love.
Feel and Communicate
Snubbing your feelings will only accumulate them under pressure until you cannot snub them anymore. Emotional bursts outs can be ugly and unhealthy. They can damage one’s mental health and also their relationships. Fear and anxiety of the future are completely valid, and so are feelings of loneliness. You can find various ways to manage your emotions. If you find it difficult to manage them yourself, please don’t hesitate to reach out for some professional help.
Feeling and processing your feelings can greatly help you manage them. You will also be able to communicate them to your loved ones, who can help strengthen your relationships.
Finally, remember not to be tough on yourself. The times are already tough. You’re only a human, and you’re not alone in your struggles through this global pandemic. Reach out to people with kindness, and you’ll be amazed to see how bravely everyone is struggling, just as they’ll be amazed by your strength. Together, it can be a little easier.
Common Essential Oils Used in Self-Care Products and Their Benefits
The increased popularity of essential oils in the past few years can be credited to those who take self-care seriously. The popularity of essential oils as essential ingredients in self-care products has led to several natural skincare brands. Moreover, it has also led to established self-care brands launching new product lines named after certain essential oils.
However, the use of essential oils in beauty and self-care products isn’t new. Essential oils have been used in various skincare and haircare products before it was a trend to read product labels and be informed about what one is putting on themselves. If you have begun doing the same and are looking to be informed about essential oils and their uses in self-care products, you are at the right place.
So without further ado, let’s find out what essential oils are commonly used in self-care products and what benefits do they provide:
Argan Oil
Argan oil is one of the most popular essential oil as it can be used on both skin and hair. Supermarket aisles are full of argan oil self-care products. From hair masks to shampoos to face masks to particular treatments, it can be found in everything. Argan oil is packed with essential fatty acids and linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is another form of fatty acid which is beneficial for health in multiple ways.
The benefits of argan oil for skin include moisturizing, protecting from sun damage, reversing sun damage, repairing skin, and healing irritated skin and skin infections. It also contains vitamin E, which helps with changing ageing signs and reducing acne marks and dark spots.
For hair, argan oil works as a natural leave-in conditioner. It contains essential antioxidants that help detangle hair ends, promote hair growth, and boost hair volume by strengthening hair follicles and reducing breakage. The fatty acids in argan oil bind to hair and provide shine and silkiness to them.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is top-rated in people with oily skin, and for all the right reasons! The essential oil contains a high percentage of antioxidants along with anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties. These beneficial properties of tea tree oil have made skincare brands dedicate entire product lines to it.
It is a popular choice for alternative acne treatment. Even 100% pure tea tree oil is safe to use on the skin. However, it can be mixed in with other essential oils or carrier oils for added benefits. The anti-bacterial actions by tea tree oil significantly reduce the existing acne and prevent acne in users. It also helps reduce the appearance of acne scars and leaves the skin smooth, clear, and soft after use.
Besides treating acne, tea tree oil also helps moisturize oily skin. The misconception that people with oily skin don’t need to moisturize their skin is pretty common. More often than not, people with oily skin worsen their skin texture by constantly stripping their skin of oils and moisture. Tea trees can greatly help such people restore their skin’s natural texture by moisturizing it without creating a heavy oil film on the skin.
The above-mentioned moisturizing properties of tea tree essential oil also make it useful to treat eczema and skin rashes. However, itchy, irritated, and extremely dry skin should not be exposed to 100% tea tree oil. Since tea tree oil works better on the skin’s surface, mixing it with a carrier oil or moisturizer can help increase its reception and absorption by the skin.
The benefits of tea tree oil on the scalp are the same as skin. The moisturizing properties of the oil can help reduce dandruff and make hair more substantial from the roots. The anti-bacterial properties of the tea tree essential oil also make it worthwhile to treat minor cuts and wounds.
Clary Sage Oil
A lesser-known ingredient among people, clary sage, is a common essential oil in several beauty products. Its soothing and balancing properties have made it a widespread use for products for all types of skin. It is an excellent moisture neutralizer and can control oil and sebum production on the skin. Clary sage essential oils contain many natural compounds that contribute to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and stimulant properties.
At times, people with dry skin can have difficulty finding a suitable product for their acne. Clary sage’s balancing and anti-inflammatory properties together can help people with dry skin get rid of acne without drying out their skin. As most dry skin is also sensitive, since there is no natural oil film to protect it, the anti-inflammatory properties of clary sage essential oil benefits double-time to calm the skin.
The antioxidant and stimulant properties of clary sage oil prove helpful when it is applied to the scalp. It can tighten the scalp skin and muscles and maintain and stimulate collagen production and hair growth. In cosmetics, it adds a natural, harmless fragrance along with all the other benefits.
Lavender Oil
While lavender is the most popular essential oil in self-care products that fall into the category of aromatherapy, it can also prove to be a beneficial ingredient in skincare and haircare products. Lavender’s inclusion in self-care products isn’t uncommon either. Its main properties and benefits are similar to other popular essential oils. However, it is of more significant benefit to people with dry skin or when mixed in with other essential oils. On its own, the lavender essential oil can cause stinging or skin irritation.
Mixing lavender oil with jojoba oil or aloe vera can turn it into a natural skin disinfectant and suitable for minor wounds or cuts. The disinfectant properties of lavender oil combined with the soothing properties of the carrier can help reduce inflammation and promote healing of the skin. It can also help with smoothing out the appearance of the wound once it’s healed.
When mixed with tea tree oil, lavender essential oil benefits can extend to soothing dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis. It can significantly reduce red and scaly skin’s appearance and make it soft and healthy with regular use. It can also help treat acne for those with dry skin. However, it shouldn’t be mixed with tea tree oil when applied to the skin for acne treatment. Instead, combining it with a moisturizing carrier oil, such as coconut oil, works better for this purpose.
However, the tea tree and lavender mixture can help get rid of head lice or scalp fungus. It can also get rid of dandruff and promote hair growth.
Rosehip Oil
Rosehip essential oil contains a high percentage of fatty acids, vitamin A, and vitamin C. While vitamin C is a necessary part of the diet, it is also a vital ingredient for most modern cleansers, serums, toners, and moisturizers. Many synthetic and natural beauty brands have dedicated entire product lines to vitamin A and vitamin C, and rosehip essential oil can be found in most of them.
When applied to the skin, vitamin C can reduce wrinkles and sun damage. It can also treat sunburns and help in the generation of new skin. With regular use, it can also help reduce skin pigmentation and the appearance of dark spots.
Vitamin A also helps in reducing hyperpigmentation. It also makes for an excellent natural moisturizer, especially for dry and sensitive skin and repairs the top skin layers by reconstructing skin barrier damaged by sun, harsh chemicals, or other external factors.
The combination of vitamin A and vitamin C also enhances benefits of both the essential vitamins. However, vitamin A and vitamin C can irritate those with sensitive or damaged skin. Therefore, rosehip oil shouldn’t be used directly on broken or irritated skin. If found in skincare products, make sure the product contains other neutralizers.
Neroli Oil
Neroli essential oil is a common ingredient in soothing products such as creams, lotions, and toners. Besides its mild fragrance, the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of the oil also make it a beneficial oil.
The oil contains a high percentage of vitamin C which also increases benefits when added to any self-care products. Unlike rosehip oil, neroli oil can be used on irritated skin due to its calming effects. If you have sore or sensitive skin, you should look for neroli essential oil instead of rosehip essential oil.
The essential oil benefits also a common component in haircare products that promise dandruff relief. Neroli oil plays a vital part in delivering the promises. Its clean fragrance also makes it a top choice to be used in perfumes and aromatherapy products.
Marula Oil
Marula essential oil is another common essential oil in all types of self-care products, especially skincare products. Its rich in antioxidants and amino acids make it an easy choice for hydrating, moisturizing, and antiaging products. From hand creams to moisturizing soaps to nail strengthening oils and body creams, it can be found in most products in any supermarket skincare aisle.
Its gentle hydrating properties make it ideal for lip products such as lip balms, hydrating lip glosses, and lip repair treatments. Since it’s gentle on the skin, it can also be used to treat sensitive skin around the nails. The gentle hydration it provides makes it ideal for all skin types. Most moisturizers for oily skin contain marula essential oil.
Besides skincare, marula oil is an essential hydrating agent in hair care products too. It calms down frizzy and rough hair without adding too much grease.
Frankincense Oil
Another common essential oil found in most hair care products is frankincense essential oil. Like marula oil, this oil also adds moisture to hair without making them greasy. It is also a vital ingredient in anti-dandruff hair products. Its calming and antiseptic properties also help reduce the itchiness of the scalp due to prolonged or chronic dandruff.
Despite its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, the oil can cause skin irritation if applied directly. However, mixed in with a moisturizing carrier, it can be used to treat acne among those with dry skin. It can also help skin recover from sun damage and can promote new skin cells generation.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint essential oil is widely used in all forms of cleansers, from scalp cleansers to face and body cleansers. Due to its easy absorption by the skin and its anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties, the oil helps clean the buildup of germs, oil, and other chemicals from the skin surface wherever it’s applied.
However, the oil shouldn’t be used on its own. Although it’s common for many self-care products manufacturers to mix the oil with a moisturizing carrier, the oil’s benefits can be mellowed down. For getting the most benefits from the moisturizer, it should be mixed in with a neutralizing or dry oil such as rosehip or argan.
Besides the above-mentioned uses, peppermint oil is also used in many refreshing body mists, deodorants, and deo-sticks.
Rose Oil
Rose extracts have been used for self-care for at least a few thousand years now. In modern-day beauty products, rose essential oil adds gentle moisturizing and calming properties. Since the oil is packed with vitamin A, it is a crucial ingredient in anti-ageing products.
Rose essential oil doesn’t bring glow and balancing moisturizing qualities to skin alone but also provides hair with shine while removing frizz and brittleness from them. It effortlessly combines with other essential oils and can act as a carrier oil for more potent essential oils such as lavender or peppermint oils.
It is also a common and prominent ingredient in several perfumes.
Finally, if you’re looking to level up your skincare game, looking for essential oils that fit your requirements and your skin’s need can prove to be helpful. If you are interested in formulating cosmetic or beauty products and are looking for a reliable dealer to get them from, you can look into our catalogue for essential oils.
9 Things to Know Which Essential Oils Are Right for You
Essential oils can bring a lot of benefits to one’s health and wellbeing. However, picking the right essential oil can feel as overwhelming as it feels calming and soothing.
Just as not all regular medicines and therapies work for everyone, not all essential oils work for everyone either. Multiple factors need to be considered to determine what essential oils would work best for an individual’s needs. If you want to step into the world of essential oils but find it confusing, start with finding out the following nine things to find the right essential oil for you:
Have You Done Enough Research?
Essential oils get a bad rep, which is mostly due to some of the users’ enthusiasm. Several people claim essential oils to be magic potions, but it’s important to mention that reality is a little different. Scientifically, essential oils don’t contain magic ingredients. They will not cure serious ailments or diseases either.
In the self-care industry, ‘chemicals’ also get a bad rep. It is why before you incorporate essential oils in your routine, you should understand that though essential oils are completely organic, they’re still made up of chemicals. Many people confuse ‘organic’ as a synonym of ‘non-synthetic.’ Non-synthetic is anything that isn’t made in a lab or through mixing raw chemical compounds. At the same time, organic is anything derived naturally from plants or animals and hasn’t been mixed with raw chemicals. However, organic compounds are also made up of chemical compounds.
Everything in the universe is made up of chemicals, including humans and other animals as well as plants. Not all chemicals are harmful, and not everything that is made in a lab is harmful either. Chemicals are what make up the biological cells in all organisms. Organic health and wellbeing products can be safer than synthetic health and wellbeing products because they’re natural. However, they may contain certain chemical compounds that you believed only existed in synthetic products.
Before you begin using essential oils, you should research exactly how essential oils benefit people. You don’t want to have high hopes only to be let down.
What Are You Using Them For?
Picking out the right essential oil becomes easy when you know the purpose you want to use it for. Most people who benefit from essential oils use them for aromatherapy. Essential oils extracted from Lavender, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Jasmine, and Chamomile have been used in aromatherapy practices for thousands of years.
Another good reason to incorporate essential oils into one’s home is their insect repellent properties.Some manufacturers use essential oils such as thyme, citronella, sage, rosemary, peppermint, and lemon in organic insect repellants. Some people may also see benefits like improved quality of sleep and suppressed hunger by continued use of essential oils. Some essential oils can also relieve nausea, congestion, or cramps in some people.
There are up to 90 different types of essential oils available in the market these days. The essential oil that would fit your needs can depend on the specific aromatherapy practice you want to incorporate in your routine or the specific insects you wish to repel from your home.
What Does Your Doctor Say?
Different people tend to benefit from different things. It’s completely okay to incorporate alternative medicines into your routine if your doctor knows and approves. Don’t go against your doctor’s advice and use essential oils or anything else, which may obstruct your ongoing treatment.
You should take your doctor on board if you suffer from a serious medical ailment and want to use essential oils to relieve yourself of some of its symptoms. Don’t assume your doctor will discourage their use because essential oils are sometimes used in alternative medicine. Your doctor is most likely to approve your use of essential oils for aromatherapy.
On the other hand, if you don’t suffer from any serious health complications, you don’t need any doctor’s permission to use essential oils. However, if you develop some health concerns by using essential oils, please consult a doctor as soon as you can.
Have You Accounted for Allergies?
It is important to read up on the ingredients in essential oil blends before using them. Some essential oils, especially if applied to the skin, can trigger allergies in some people. These allergies can continue to worsen when not detected or taken care of immediately. In severe cases, people can develop rashes, blisters, or scaling of skin too.
Inhaling essential oils through diffusers or homemade candles can also result in itchiness of skin, eyes, or nose or other allergies affecting the respiratory system. People can experience stuffy or runny noses, watery eyes, or sneezing. In extreme cases, the use of essential oils can cause shortness of breath, dizziness, hives, vomiting, or diarrhea. Some people may also experience symptoms similar to those of an anxiety attack.
To avoid allergic reactions from essential oils, research well on the ingredients of the essential oil you want to use and make sure it’s free of any allergens. If you’re confused, consult with your doctor. They will guide you on if you should use the essential oil and in what quantity.
How Will You Apply Essential Oils?
There are two safe ways to use essential oils: through inhalation and topical application.
Essential oils can be inhaled through their use in diffusers, candles, burners, and sprays. Essential oils can be mixed with pre-made candles by melting the wax in a double-boiler or making homemade candles. You can also mix it with water and spray it in any room to deodorize it. Essential oils are mixed in with water when using in diffusers and burners too.
Most essential oils used as mood boosters are used in diffusers, candles, and burners. Common mood booster essential oils include lavender, chamomile, sage, and ylang-ylang. In the form of sprays, essential oils are commonly used as disinfectants and insect repellants. Many people also use lavender essential oil mixed in with water as a spray in their bedrooms, specifically on their sheets and pillows to improve their sleep.
Topical application refers to diluting the essential oil with a carrier and applying it directly to the skin. Using a carrier is necessary as essential oils can harm the skin when applied directly. Usually, the carrier is another oil that is safe for direct application on the skin. The dilution should only leave 3% of essential oil concentration in the mixture. A concentration greater than 3% can harm the skin.
The method of topical application is mostly used in aromatherapy massages or baths. However, before practicing this method, people with sensitive skin should consult a dermatologist. Essential oils with disinfecting properties such as peppermint, lemon, and citronella should not be used on the skin with or without the carrier oil. Topical use of any essential oil should also be avoided on damaged skin.
What Carrier Oil Will You Use?
In the US, FDA has approved all edible plant-based oils as carrier oils. Rarely anyone happens to be allergic to these common carrier oils. The most popular and cheapest carrier oils include coconut, olive, almond, and apricot oil.
You can safely pick any of these or other carrier oils available in the stores. However, there are a few points that you should keep in mind while picking a career oil:
- The Odor of Carrier Oil – Pick a carrier oil that you like how it smells, but remember that it will change when mixed in with the essential oil.
- Your Skin Type – While you may not be allergic to a carrier oil, your skin may not be its fan either based on how moisturizing or dry it is. For example, rosehip seed oil makes for a suitable carrier oil for those with dry skin, while olive oil can further dry out their skin. If applied to hair, the skin of the scalp and hair quality should be kept in mind. Argan oil is a common carrier oil to incorporate essential oils in hair care.
- Shelf Life of Carrier Oil – This may not influence which carrier oil you’re picking, but it may impact its quantity. Some oils last for a longer time than others. Your use and their shelf life may affect buying the carrier oil in bulk or in little quantity.
How Will You Include Them in Your Routine?
It is one thing to plan for regular use of essential oils in your daily self-care routine, and it’s another thing to let them spoil on your shelves while you forget about them. Your plans to incorporate essential oils in your routine should be practical, easy, and enjoyable.
There’s no point in buying things that will feel like a burden to use. Instead of improving your life’s quality, essential oils sitting in your cabinet will be a waste of your money.
The effects of some essential oils also take time to be strong enough to be noticed. You will have to stay consistent in the use of essential oils to get any benefits from them. If you cannot use the oild regularly, it would be better to look at other organic self-care forms.
Are You Aware of the Dos and Don’ts of the Essential Oil?
The practices of using essential oils have been developed over millennia. They are not just about the beneficial chemical compounds and the sweet aroma they emit. Essential oil practices are about the traditions and rituals associated with their usage. They are about the whole experience their usage brings.
Before using essential oils, ask yourself if you want to commit to the whole experience. You should also ask yourself if you can realistically commit to using essential oils for a long time.
Here are also a few don’ts you should be aware of when using essential oils:
- Don’t use essential oils on pets or children for any purposes, not even for the same purposes as yourself.
- Don’t think of them as a replacement for traditional medicine.
- Don’t leave them unattended in the presence of children and pets. Children and pets tend to ingest whatever they can get their hands on, and essential oils can prove fatal if ingested.
Do You Know Where to Get Essential Oils?
Since the FDA doesn’t regulate the quality of essential oils available in the market, it can be difficult to determine just by reading the labels. However, here are a few guidelines that will help you identify good quality essential oils:
- The bottle will be airtight – high-quality essential oils will never come in a cheap bottle. The quality of the bottle and the seal on it should give you a good idea about the quality of the essential oil it contains. Any good-quality essential oil will always be packed in a dark-colored glass bottle to keep it safe from direct sunlight and warmth, as these can affect the quality of some essential oils.
- The label will say it all – there should be four important things written on the label. First, the country of origin; second, the plant’s name; third, how that plant was grown; and fourth, the extraction method. If any of these are missing on the label or not written clearly, don’t buy that essential oil.
- It should read “100% Pure Essential Oil,” and there should be no mention of the word “fragrance.”
- The source will be mentioned – the country of the origin of the essential oil should be mentioned on either the label or the packaging. If you want to be responsible, look for ethically and responsibly sourced essential oils, such as Maverick Oils. Maverick Oils is a family-owned business where all the products come from legitimate sources to ensure quality and benefits.
Everything aside, make sure not to overthink or overdo them. Essential oils are used to enhance self-care. If at any point you believe you’re not achieving this purpose, you should pause or stop the use of essential oils. However, if and when incorporated responsibly into one’s routine, essential oils can prove to be greatly helpful.
GMO vs. Non-GMO: The Truth Behind the Debate
You might be familiar with the term GMO. Short for Genetically Modified Organism, the term has been the center of many controversies in the food and health industry. While many scientists and researchers have deemed GMOs safe, there have also been some studies that suggested otherwise.
So, what’s the truth?
In honesty, the truth is not as simple one would imagine it to be. If it were, the research and debate on the subject wouldn’t be as extensive or divisive. Understanding the truth requires understanding some scientific knowledge that usually leaves those who aren’t related to the food or health industry and are only trying to live a healthy lifestyle confused. Hence why we have simplified the truth behind the debate on GMO vs. non-GMO. Let’s start from the start for better understanding:
What is a GMO?
GMO, i.e., Genetically Modified Organism, refers to any organism whose genetic makeup has been changed in some way, likely but not necessarily, in a laboratory. A GMO could be an animal, a plant, a microbe, or any other organism.
There are numerous reason for turning a naturally occurring organism into a GMO. Some plants are modified to withstand harsh temperatures or produce a higher yield, while some animals are modified to become man’s best friend.
Yes, you read that right. Several dog species are a result of selective breeding and genetic modification. The dogs that we lovingly bring into our homes and cuddle with are not much different from the wild wolves roaming in the jungles.
But wait, what does this tell us?
It tells us that genetic modification does not necessarily mean that the organism is harmful and that farmers are practicing it a lot earlier than scientists. In fact, scientists have only been modifying plants and animals in their lab for only about 50 years, while farmers have been practicing modification methods on plants and animals for at least a few thousand.
How Has Genetically Modified Food Negatively Affected People’s Health?
Now that we know that GMO doesn’t necessarily mean bad, we need to look at why the GMO vs. non-GMO debate concerning food is extensively discussed.
An article by Harvard stated the reason for the debate stems from the public’s concern over their health. It is no doubt that health issues related to food have increased drastically in recent history. Since the advent of processed and packaged foods, the average health of Americans has deteriorated despite the increase in lifespan. However, the adverse health effects have less to do with how food is grown and more with its consumption.
Americans have become notorious for their eating habits worldwide. The serving sizes in the US are huge compared to the rest of the world. The serving size for single servings, which are heavier in carbs and fats, in the US is only somewhat smaller than the serving size for families in most of Europe and Asia. This means that Americans consume a significant percentage of energy-rich ingredients such as sugar, starch, and fats in everyday meals than whole nutrients found invegetables, beans, lentils, and fruits.
Moreover, the American lifestyle is relatively more luxurious than that of other countries. Most of the everyday chores that people around the world perform manually have been assigned to automatic machines in the US. The infrastructure of most US cities also promotes driving instead of walking.
With a lifestyle that makes one consume more energy and spend less, one is bound to experience health issues irrespective of how the food they’re consuming is grown. It should also be noted that these changes in everyday lifestyle in the US took place after the Second World War, meaning roughly around the same time as when scientists became interested in genetically modifying plants and animals in the lab.
The Harvard study also found that over a hundred different independent researches carried out worldwide both individually and collectively concluded Genetically Modified food to be safe to consume. So far, there have been no diseases among humans that can be directly linked to the consumption of Genetically Modified foods.
Differences between GMO and Non-GMO Food
The primary difference between GMO vs. non-GMO food lies in is how it’s grown. GMO crops differ from non-GMO crops in their ability to grow faster, yield more product, resistance to insects and diseases, and the nutrition they contain. Genetic modification in animals has also been used to mature them quicker and deliver a greater quantity of products and by-products.
Today, almost all of the food items found in grocery stores across the US are either genetically modified or contain genetically modified ingredients. The practice of GMO doesn’t mean that orange will reveal coconut water when peeled; it simply means that the orange is less likely to be attacked by pests, will stay fresh longer, and will contain more pulp and fewer seeds. Similarly, a domesticated GMO animal such as a calf will grow quickly into a cow and develop more muscle mass to provide more meat.
Besides that, Genetically Modified (GM) food can also be more nutritious. While the nutritional value of most GM food is the same as non-GMO food, the prior might have more vitamins and nutrients to increase its benefits.
It should also be noted that the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) doesn’t allow genetically modified food experiments in grocery stores. Any food item that is genetically modified or contains GMO-derived ingredients has to check all the safety boxes defined by the FDA. Another fact ignored during the GMO vs. non-GMO debate is that only 10 GMO crops are being farmed in the US.
If farmers and scientists hadn’t modified crops to contain all the above properties, the world would still suffer from a food shortage. The abundance in which food can be bought today, at cheaper rates, would not have been possible without traditional and scientific genetic modification of food.
Differences between GMO and Non-GMO Farming Practices
When it comes to genetically modified foods, there seems to be misplaced blame. While there isn’t a stark difference between the nutritional benefits of GMO and non-GMO foods, there aren’t many differences between GMO and non-GMO farming practices either.
Both genetically modified and conventional farms are focused on producing more food in a short amount of time. However, some of the practices used to produce greater quantities of food also create many consequences at GM farms. While the practices and methods of genetically modifying food don’t have any harmful effects on the food itself, they are questionable for their impact on the environment. Instead of Genetically Modified food, GM farming practices should be the center of the GMO vs. non-GMO controversy.
However, Genetically Modified farms didn’t always have the effects and impact on the environment they’re having now. GM farming practices were initially introduced to conserve natural habitats while simultaneously yielding a greater quantity of food to satisfy growing demand. It was why these practices were readily picked up by conventional farmers too.
For example, the salmon and shrimps you see in the seafood section of grocery stores come from fish farms and not the oceans or rivers. Just like most produce in the vegetable section, these animals are farmed to be consumed as food. They grow to their full size and are ready to be consumed much earlier than their fellow specimen swimming across the oceans. If salmon and shrimps were harvested by following conventional methods, they would have been gone extinct by this time.
Genetically Modifed farming practices help with the conservation of wild animals by leaving them alone. However, these practices have been contributing to global warming at a much greater scale in the recent past. These effects were not clear when these practices were put in place. This shows that the impact of mass food production are slow but adds up after a couple of years pass by.
The practice of farming GMO crops requires less water than farming non-GMO crops. Also, they also required lesser time to grow. It was seen as a breakthrough when genetically modified crops were first farmed and harvested. However, continuously growing GM crops using less water left the soil dried and empty of nutrients.
Genetically Modified foods are usually more resistant to pests and insects. Interestingly, they are also more resistant to pesticides and insecticides. It leads to farmers spraying GMO crops with a greater quantity of pesticides and insecticides to keep them safe from pests and insects they couldn’t genetically resist. On the other hand, pests and insects affecting those crops also evolved to be more robust to attack, further leading farmers to spray an even greater quantity of pesticides and insecticides.
The increased quantity of chemicals to keep pests and insects away, along with decreased water, caused erosion in the soil. As the farmers mixed the dried and eroded soil with specialized synthetic fertilizers, it solved the soil problem but released an increased amount of greenhouse gases. With one issue arising from the solution to another, the practice of GMO farming became a vicious cycle that is continually affecting farmers and agriculture scientists in the industry right now.
Although conventional farms also use synthetic fertilizers to make the soil richer and chemicals to keep the crops safe, they don’t yield as quickly as GM farms. The harvest produced is also more prone to get spoilt earlier than crops from GMO farms. However, conventional farms emit a lesser quantity of greenhouse gases and are environmentally friendlier than Genetically Modified crops.
Truth be told, there isn’t much of a difference between GMO and non-GMO crops. If one wishes to stand against GMO farming, one should also favor organic farming.
Organic farming doesn’t just have a reduced impact on global warming but reverses its effects. It is the only farming method that is environmentally sustainable, but it comes with a hefty price tag.
Should You Avoid Genetically Modified (GM) Foods for a Healthier Life?
One doesn’t have to avoid all Genetically Modified foods to live a healthier life. Consuming healthy, more nutritious foods in moderate quantities and physically moving the body are easier ways than changing everything in one’s pantry and refrigerator.
The studies that show the adverse health effects of Genetically Modified food all compare it with health effects experienced from organically grown food. Organic food is better for one’s health and the environment. People stick to an organic lifestyle for they see the value in the many health benefits it brings them. Despite the high cost it comes with, the number of people choosing organic products in the US has been constantly on the rise.
However, there are various ways to define a healthy life. While the benefits of using organic products are unmatched, it all comes down to one’s definition of the term ‘healthy’ and their financial and environmental priorities as an individual. In today’s uncertain economic times, not everyone is fortunate enough to switch to an organic lifestyle.
The responsibility of promoting organic farming and making it accessible for most of the population rests with the authorities. By subsidizing organic agriculture, the authorities can push a healthier lifestyle for its citizens. But widespread organic farming will also come with the consequences of reduced availability of food and a change in economic practices.
The popularity of GMO farming that became a necessity has a lot to do with how humans tend to incline towards increasing their gains and reducing their efforts. If everyone starts living for long-term effects on their and the planet’s health, GMO farming can be ended.
The ultimate truth, however, is that the debate shouldn’t be about GMO vs. non-GMO. Instead, it should be organic vs. genetically modified foods.
Investing With Little Money: 5 Ways to Get Started
Wondering if you can start investing with little money?
Absolutely!
You don’t need to be a millionaire to reap big investment rewards. Even with little savings, you can try various ways to grow your money.
We have prepared this guide to help you start investing as a beginner.
5 Ways to Start Investing with Little Money
Follow the tips below to become a smart investor.
1. Save Money Using the Cookie Jar Approach
To begin investing, you need to save some money. Start by stashing $10 to $15 away in a cookie jar every week. Alternatively, you can put your savings in an online savings account.
You may increase this amount as you get into the habit of saving money so that you can move it into an investment vehicle ASAP.
2. Get Help from a Robo Advisor
Robo advisors can take the guesswork out of investing. They ask some questions to determine your goals, risk tolerance, and expectations to help you create a low-cost portfolio of bonds and stocks. They also use smart rebalancing techniques to optimize your portfolio for taxes.
Robo advisors usually charge an annual fee of up to $500 to start investing with little money. In return, they offer automated investment plans to increase your balance.
3. Enter the Stock Market
Today, you can start investing in the stock market with just a dollar without having to pay trade commissions. You should consider investing in companies with partial shares, as it allows you to diversify your portfolio while saving money.
4. Put Your Money in Mutual Funds
Investing in low-initial-investment mutual funds is an excellent idea if you want to start small. Companies usually require you to automate the monthly payments between $50 and $100. You can do this through payroll savings. Discuss how to set it up with your human resources department.
5. Enroll in Employer’s Retirement Plan
If you’re on a tight budget, you can invest 1% of your monthly income into your employer’s retirement plan. See if the company offers a matching contribution.
These are only a few ways you can start investing with little money. The key is to just start somewhere. No matter how tight your budget is right now, it’ll get easier with time and you’ll be happy you took the leap.
3 Fantastic Benefits of Double Cleansing
Double cleansing is a popular skincare ritual that has women raving for the past few years.
But what difference does washing your face twice with different cleansers really make?
Let’s find out!
Top 3 Benefits of Double Cleansing
1. Prevents Bacteria and Sebum Buildup
If you wear makeup and head out every day or like to lather your face with your favorite sunscreen each time you step outside, sebum and bacteria buildup can cause acne and skin infections. Double cleansing serves as a safety net against skin impurities and sebum-related breakouts. As a result, your skin appears clearer and smoother.
2. Better Penetration of Skincare Products
One of the best benefits of double cleansing is that it improves the results of targeted treatments, serums, moisturizers, and other skincare products. This is because it cleans your pores and prepares them for better absorption of whatever you put on your skin.
3. Makes Makeup Application Easier
If your skin is prone to overdrying, you’ll find that its texture improves with double cleansing. This technique leaves enough moisture behind to reduce bumps and provides a smooth surface for makeup application.
Who Should Do Double Cleansing?
Double cleansing serves as a game-changer for women who:
- Wear makeup every day
- Sweat a lot
- Exercise frequently
- Apply heavy SPF formulations
When Should You Double Cleanse?
It is best to do double cleansing at night to get rid of the oil, grime, makeup, and impurities accumulated throughout the day.
With double cleansing, your skin will feel fresher, softer, and smoother. It will look noticeably healthier and brighter. Your favorite nighttime skincare products will also yield better results.
Now that you know about the benefits of double cleansing, get ready to say hello to an event, radiant complexion!
The Advantages of Living an Organic Lifestyle
Once labeled as a fad, organic lifestyle not only stayed with the consumers who first adopted it but also converted many businesses in its favor. While the increase in the number of people who adopted an organic lifestyle has been slow, it has been consistent nonetheless. Those who try it end up sticking with it for experiencing its benefits firsthand.
If you have been wanting to make some changes to your lifestyle to feel healthier and happier or if you have been looking to reduce your carbon footprint on the planet, then an organic lifestyle is something you can benefit from. Let’s see the various advantages you will experience once you go organic:
Improved Physical Health
An organic lifestyle has a direct and powerful impact on physical health. Organic food is not only rich in nutrients but does not contain toxins from synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. These are not just statements but are facts backed by science. Many scientific researches have proved that consuming organic food saves one from repeated exposure to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. While most of the synthetic fertilizers and pesticides used by regular farms are allowed for conventional farming, their repeated exposure can be harmful, especially to children and immune-compromised.
Organic dairy products also contain a greater percentage of healthy fats compared to conventional dairy products. This difference in the percentage of healthy fats comes from the difference in the food the livestock consumes at an organic or conventional dairy. Full-cream milk from an organic dairy contains fewer calories than full-cream milk from a conventional dairy. While one glass of organic milk may not make much difference in one’s health, when one commits to only consuming organic food, the changes in their physical health can be drastically positive.
However, the benefits of organic food on one’s physical health don’t stop there. Conventional livestock farms inject livestock with various antibiotics and growth hormones to maximize their muscle mass to get a greater meat percentage. When one stops consuming conventionally raised livestock, one also stops consuming the traces of these various antibiotics and growth hormones that the meat contains. It should be noted that none of these chemicals are suited for human consumption, yet their indirect consumption by humans occurs all the time. Though it occurs in minor quantities, constant consumption can add up and lead to various health issues among the consumers.
Grown without the harmful toxins and chemicals, and in a cleaner and more natural environment, organic fruits and vegetables also contain more nutrients and minerals than conventional farm produce. Organic foods contain a higher percentage of essential nutrients such as Vitamin C, Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Iron when compared to inorganically grown foods.
Cutting down on inorganic food also means cutting down on unhealthy chemicals, and regularly consuming organic foods means regularly consuming healthier food. Both of these acts when done for a longer period produce effects on physical health which are not only visible but also make one feel good.
Improved Mental Health
There is no doubt that physical health impacts mental health. The old saying, “a healthy gut keeps a mind healthy,” has been proven to be true too. The harmful toxins and chemical consumed with inorganic food not only affects the physical health but also increase the risk of mental illnesses too.
Researchers have proved that those who regularly consume junk or processed food have a higher risk of experiencing psychiatric distress than those who don’t. The increased risk arises from the lack of nutrients from inorganic food and proves the importance of receiving the right quantity of nutrients in one’s daily life. For humans, the only method of receiving the required nutrients is through consuming food, or more specifically, nutrient-rich food.
When one doesn’t fall sick and doesn’t experience unexpected aches and pains in their body, their mental health starts improving too. While the effects of organic food on one’s physical health are more noticeable, improved physical health starts improving one’s mental health too. When one feels physically active, they begin completing more day-to-day tasks in their everyday life. This, slowly, brings them a sense of control over their day and their plans. Nothing can bring a greater sense of achievement than having confidence in one’s physical and mental capabilities.
Adopting an organic lifestyle is not a day’s job. It requires one to make conscious choices all day and every day. Making these choices also add to the sense of control over one’s life and the sense of achievement for doing something better for one’s health and the environment. The daily work that goes into maintaining an organic lifestyle further boosts one’s mental well-being day too.
Involvement in Local Community
Going organic also means going local. It does not include foreign foods shipped across the world. Even if a food item is produced organically, it no longer stays organic when flown in from the other corner of the world or even the country. Consuming organic food also means not consuming food that’s packed in plastic and placed in the freezer section of the local supermarket.
Consuming organic food means going to local farmers’ markets and buying produce grown on the nearby land. It also means asking the local farmers questions about their farming methods and knowing their practices. It means getting involved in the process of the growth of the food one will consume.
Adopting an organic lifestyle connects them to their local farmers, producers, artisans, and other important professionals of society that contribute to the sustenance of one’s organic lifestyle. As adopting an organic lifestyle also means supporting these professionals and becoming their regular customers, it strengthens one’s relationship and their involvement with their local community. The local professionals producing organic goods almost always practice living an organic lifestyle themselves.
As one goes organic, they provide these local organic goods producers a chance to expand their customer base and hence their business. Similarly, as these local organic goods producers see other local members of the society adopting an organic lifestyle and supporting their small businesses, they welcome them into the community.
Strengthened Connection with Nature
An organic lifestyle comes with making deliberate choices that one knows will be beneficial for them and the planet. When one truly adopts an organic lifestyle, they learn what product does or does not grow in their local area. They learn the different farming practices and the effects of these practices. It brings one to the ground level, right by their food. More often than not, it also makes one take an interest in growing their own food so that they can learn more about the dos and don’ts of growing organic produce.
The knowledge that comes with adopting an organic lifestyle deepens one’s connection with nature. One begins to appreciate nature and how it works, which further strengthens their commitment towards living an organic lifestyle.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
If one wishes to preserve Mother Nature for future generations, then they have to work on reducing their carbon footprint. Carbon footprint refers to the amount of Greenhouse gases emitted as a result of one’s choices and actions. When one chooses to adopt a lifestyle that requires a lesser amount of greenhouse gases to maintain, their carbon footprint is automatically reduced.
An organic lifestyle requires the least amount of greenhouse gases to maintain. Most organic livestock farming and organic produce farming practices reverse the amount of greenhouse gases in the environment.
Industrialization and conventional farming practices are the leading causes of increased greenhouses gases in the environment. They not only pollute the air, but also the water and the land. Their practices have permanently changed the chemistry of soil and water underneath the earth’s surface. And each new crop season, they require a greater amount of synthetic pesticides and artificial fertilizers to grow the crops.
On the other hand, organic livestock farms and produce farms reverse the damage done by the harmful chemicals. They preserve the soil’s chemistry by keeping it naturally fertile and clean the water sources underneath. This way, they end up increasing the fertility of the land and increasing the variety of the products that can grow in a certain area. Organic farming practices also encourage the use of reclaimed water instead of emptying freshwater lakes and rivers.
Increased Savings
Adopting an organic lifestyle may seem to come with a hefty price tag in the beginning, but it makes one saving money in the longer run.
Consuming organic food reduces one’s appetite in the long run. Human beings don’t feel hungry only when they need energy, they also feel hungry when their body’s requirement of essential vitamins and nutrients is not met. When one’s requirement of essential vitamins and nutrients is met through their regular meals, they feel less tempted to snack or binge eat or spend money on snacks or large amounts of food.
Moreover, organic produce stays fresh for longer. It is an unfortunate reality that about 35% of food purchased all over the US ends up in trash cans. This is because inorganic food stays fresh only until it stays inside the specially formulated packaging or at a specific temperature. Since the air and the temperature inside most people’s homes is different than the artificial environment at farms and supermarkets, the produce gets spoilt quickly. Inorganic produce at the supermarket aisles also contains out-of-season produce. This product also gets spoilt as soon as it’s removed from the temperature-controlled environment or the preservative-laden packaging it’s placed in.
The choice between organic and inorganic food is of that between quality vs quantity. For all the above-mentioned reasons, inorganic food consumers buy food in a greater quantity. They don’t end up consuming this food either, which adds to food waste and their carbon footprint. On the other hand, those who consume organic food buy less food yet gain more nutrients from it. They also stay healthier which, in the long run, reduces their medical bills and saves them money. Most people who choose to live an organic lifestyle also end up growing food in their kitchen garden or backyard, and hence making more savings.
Though food is a major part of it, the organic lifestyle is not limited to food. As one decides to go organic, they stop spending money on impulse buys. With a relatively higher number of inorganic goods and fewer organic goods in the market, those who live an organic lifestyle don’t get tempted by a large variety of options to choose from or to buy things they don’t need. They make a conscious choice every day not to add to their carbon footprint or indulge in practices that may harm Mother Nature.
One stops contributing to fast fashion and trendy materials that lose their charm after a season. Like their food, they invest in things that keep benefitting them in the long run. For this reason, they don’t feel the need to constantly shop for new things and instead buy things that are truly worth their money. They also recycle and upcycle things whenever they can to reduce their carbon footprint wherever possible.
An organic lifestyle is more about seeing the labels on items in a market and more about knowing where all the raw materials for an item are coming from. However, it’s not at all as difficult as it may seem.
An organic lifestyle is much simpler compared to an inorganic lifestyle. An organic way of living is mindful living. All it requires is a little bit of thought before making day-to-day choices. In return, it frees from many thoughts and practices that don’t bring one any good.
The greatest freedom that comes from living an organic lifestyle is the freedom from the artificial things all-around one, made up of or wrapped in plastic. It is said, “We are what we eat.” Are you ready to stop consuming plastic and feel more real instead?