Should you skip shampoo?

There’s been a movement in the last couple of years to ditch shampoo. I am always game to try a new, natural trend, so I thought I’d share my experience.

stole this photo from: http://www.hairworldmag.com/how-to-stop-using-shampoo-and-the-benefits/

First, why are people doing it? Chemicals are the number one reason. Most shampoos expose you to a wide variety of chemicals and known carcinogens. On top of that, they strip the hair of its oil, which is a built in moisturizer. So shampoo can dry out and harm hair, leaving it looking dull and limp. Lovers of the no-poo hair do claim the natural oils keep hair full and shiny and healthy!

So what do they use instead of shampoo? Well that depends, many people just brush hair with a boar bristle brush and rinse with water. Others use baking soda and apple cider vinegar (ACV). Some even use conditioner as both a cleanser and moisturizer.

Doesn’t hair get really oily? The idea is that the hair will naturally produce the right amount of oil, but because we are habitually stripping it of its natural oils many people over produce oil. When you go no-poo the oil is suppose to adjust after a period of time.

My experience: I decided to wash my hair with baking soda and rinse it with ACV. When my hair was short this method worked well. I would put a tablespoon of baking soda in my hand and mix with a few drops of water. I massaged it into my scalp, rinsed, then used diluted ACV to rinse all my hair. I did this 2-3 times a week and in between just rinsed my hair with water or just brushed. It was crucial to brush my hair with a boar bristle brush every day to distribute the oil from my scalp.

I found my hair adjusted after about 2 1/2 weeks. I stopped producing as much oil and my hair did look full and strong! The adjustment period was difficult, my hair looked dull and oily. I used coco powder as a dry shampoo during this time because I have dark hair. Baby powder would work for those with lighter hair.

Ultimately, I did not stick to the no-poo do because as my hair grew it was difficult to get the scalp clean with the baking soda method. Also, my jar of baking soda in the shower kept getting too watery and the baking soda would dissolve. This resulted in a large waste of baking soda. However, I do stick to some of the principles of the no-poo do. I wash my hair much less frequently, use many less chemicals, and brush nearly every night with a boar bristle brush.

Bottom Line: Works great for short hair because you can reach the roots easily. Long hair is difficult!

Namaste

Cassandra

Raw Tomato Basil Soup

If you haven’t caught on already, I am a pretty lazy cook! I tend to look for shortcuts in everything in order to take the least amount of time and make the fewest amount of dishes! Despite this, my dishes still turn out pretty well (if i do say so myself!).  This raw soup is basically the epitome of my laziness.

Ingredients:

5 cups  tomatoes of various kinds (mine consisted of cherry and romas mostly)

1 large cucumber peeled

1/4 bell pepper

tons of fresh basil leaves

2 garlic gloves

3 Tablespoons EVOO

salt to taste- be generous!

Peel, chop, sprinkle, and blend. DONE.

Other items that i didn’t have on hand that could be added are avocado (for something creamy!), or even some mango to kick it up a notch!

Enjoy the deliciousness

Namaste

Cassandra

Delicious Shrimp Ceviche

Ceviche needs to be on everyone’s list as an easy, delicious, healthy meal! Ceviche can be made MANY different ways but in general it is a cold, seafood dish that has been marinated in lemon/lime juice. (My mouth is totally watering right now!)

One of the greatest parts of ceviche is that you can make it to your own taste, so if you are missing an ingredient feel free to switch it out for something else. This is my (completely unauthentic but delicious) recipe

1 pound shrimp

1 avocado

1/4 c diced red onion

1/2 c cucumbers

1 bunch cilantro

1 jalapeño diced

3 limes

drizzle of EVOO

1 tsp chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

I boiled the shrimp until just cooked and then rinsed it and put it in the refrigerator to cool. I then chopped up all my produce. Avocados, cilantro, cucumbers, jalapeño, and onion were all diced and mixed together. Next, I added the cooled shrimp (you may have to wait a bit). I squeezed the juice from 3 limes on top, added the EVOO, and seasonings. It takes about 5 minutes of hands on time plus the time for the shrimp to cool. This is perfect to serve as an appetizer with tortilla chips. I personal just grabbed a bowl and ate it as a meal though!

Namaste

Cassandra

Turkey Bacon and Apple Oatmeal

This is not your usual oatmeal! I went out on a limb and tried something new and you know what? It worked! Oatmeal is a blank slate, you can doctor it up in almost any way. It is kind of odd looking, but if you can get over that you will be rewarded with yumminess!

For this creation I used:

1 c uncooked old fashioned oats

4 slices turkey bacon

1 medium granny smith apple

cinnamon

maple syrup

I cooked the oats in water. At the same time I cooked the turkey bacon, both only take 3-5 minutes. Then I added the cinnamon, chopped apple, and chopped bacon. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup. YUM.

This is a super easy, quick and delicious breakfast that is very filling. The mix of protein and carbs also makes it a great post workout meal.

Namaste

Cassandra

Natural Skincare

I have been devoted to chemical free skincare for years and now it’s time to share the wonders of what I’ve learned!

First things first, we all have different skin types and what works for me might not be as effective for you, but it is a good place to start!

Next order of business, if you aren’t eating well, this routine will not be nearly as effective as it could be. WATER is the most important ingredient to healthy skin. Avoiding sugar, alcohol, and dairy are the next steps.

My facial skincare routine looks something like this:

In the morning:

Splash VERY cold water on face (it’s a circulation thing).

Use witch hazel as a toner.

Moisturize face with Cetaphil facial moisturizer with SPF 15 -I have struggled to decide whether I would rather use some chemicals and protect my skin with spf or go bare. I go back and forth, but at the end of the day I feel the small amount of chemicals is not significant considering all the other ways I have reduced chemical exposure in my life. I choose cetaphil because it is gentle, light, and isn’t as bad as many of the alternatives.

In the evening:

Rub 1/4 teaspoon of coconut oil on my face to remove makeup- I like to do a facial lymph massage while I do this. Circulation is important for great skin. After my mini massage I soak a clean washcloth in hot (but not too hot!) water and place it over my face for 30 seconds. Rinse and repeat. Pat face dry with a hand towel. I use 1 towel specifically for my face and change it every few days for a clean towel.

Rub 1/2 teaspoon of honey on slightly damp face. Let sit for a minute and then rinse with warm water.

Tone face with witch hazel.

Pat on vitamin e oil around eyes- use ring finger because it is the weakest.

Moisturize with a thick night cream- I like Nivea. Just regular old nivea, not anything special. I choose nivea because it is thick, but doesn’t clog up my pores and it doesn’t have tons of chemicals.

This may seem like a lot, but I think of it as 5 minute pampering session. I also do not do every part, everyday. Your skin changes based on weather, hormones, and food. So I adapt when necessary, but for the most part I stick to this.

If my face has been breaking out a lot or looks dull I will use a wet washcloth to lightly scrub or add some turmeric to honey and let it sit on my face for 20 minutes. Beware, turmeric stains clothes, but it is an amazing face mask!

If you struggle with adult acne (I could write a whole post about this!) it is likely a food allergy or hormonal thing. I found Vitex, an herbal supplement, helped me a lot with the hormonal acne, while following an elimination diet helped me determine foods that caused issues.

If you have questions send a message/e-mail my way!

Namaste

Cassandra

Cucumber Hummus

Talk about an easy peezy dish! I love hummus so much, i could eat a whole batch myself! However, I don’t always want to eat so many chickpeas. Luckily, you can easily lighten up hummus by adding cucumber in place of some of the chickpeas. Here’s my take:

1 can chickpeas

1/2-1 large cucumber peeled

2 tablespoons tahini

2 cloves crushed garlic

juice from 1 lemon

salt, pepper, and oregano

Put it all in a blender and blend. The end. That’s it!

I find that hummus made with cucumber doesn’t need the olive oil that is traditionally added. The cucumber provides enough juice to blend everything smoothly. Play with this recipe to make it your own. Some modifications could be adding sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, or parsley. A sprinkle of cayenne could be nice as well!

I eat my hummus as the main course to a light meal. Chop up a few cups of fresh veggies and dunk away!

Bon apetit!

Namaste

Cassandra

Why I don’t wear deodorant

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Geoffrey Robinson/REX (997880z)

I can’t believe I’m publicly discussing this! Some of my friends have asked me about chemical free beauty and I think deodorant (or my lack thereof) is a great place to start. Here’s what you need to know:

1. First and most importantly let me tell you, I do not stink. My poor husband has had to do the sniff test MANY times to confirm this. I do not smell. When I first started transitioning to deodorant free there was something of a transition period, but very soon it faded away.
2. Sweating is one of the ways your body gets rid of toxins. If you are blocking up your pits with antiperspirants and deodorant how is your body suppose to do its job?
3. Most deodorants are packed with chemicals that your skin sips up through its pores. My largest concern personally is aluminum.
4. Sweating is not the cause of body odor, the bacteria on the skin is the issue. If you stink, take a shower, easy ’nuff
5. The foods you eat can effect your smell! (an article from the University of CA Berkeley told me this!). In my opinion, a clean healthy diet will result in less odor
6. Lastly, genetically, not everyone has a stench. Marketing has convinced us that it is a necessity, but it isn’t! Not wearing deodorant has been so nice. I don’t have to worry about getting it on my clothes and it is an extra couple of bucks that stays in my pocket! I made the switch five years ago and haven’t looked back!

Hopefully I haven’t scared anyone off!

Namaste

Cassandra

Commandments of Sound Sleep

Sleep is crucial for great health. While sleeping your body repairs and recharges. Even more, sleeping well makes it easier to make healthier choices the next day!

Namaste

Cassandra