Toothpaste

Good morning!
So here I have written up about some of the (toxic) ingredients in our most commonly used toothpastes. I used to be very skeptical about "toxic toothpaste" because I didn't think anyone was swallowing enough of the stuff to cause any harm. I have learned over the years that toxins can  easily absorb into our blood stream from things that come in contact with our skin and gums. So chemicals that are put into our mouth, from toothpaste lets say, even if they aren't swallowed, can be absorbed into our blood stream from our gums, and over time can cause toxins to build up in our bodies. The good news is that there are chemical free toothpastes, just beware, some of them claim to be "healthy" while still full of chemicals.
Before I get into the list, I want to briefly mention that saliva is really our natural toothpaste. It washes away bacteria and helps re-mineralize our teeth and protects our enamel by using calcium and phosphorous.(That is why its so vital for our teeth to eat a  balanced diet, so that we have appropriate amounts of minerals to help keep teeth strong and healthy.) Just some more food for thought. Its great to know that saliva actually does some really great things for us!

I took a regular tube of Colgate whitening toothpaste to look at what's inside, I'll explain a few of them.
Here we go...

Hydrated silica
glycerin
sorbitol
PVM/MA copolymer
SLS (sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate
cellulose gum
flavor
sodium hydroxide
porpelyn glycol
carageenan
sodium saccharin
titanium dioxide

Hydrate silica is formed from a chemical compound found in sand. It is used as a whitener and an abrasive, to clean the plaque off teeth. This is very harmful for the tooth because it scratches it's surface and prevents daily re-mineralization, and can eventually wear away the enamel. It is particularly harmful for those with tooth decay or receding gums. It is also used in paint as an anti-caking agent. Yum.

Glycerin is a sweetener which is generally extracted from vegetable oil by using toxic chemicals. It's job in toothpaste is to keep it from drying out. It also coats the teeth with a seal which blocks the tooth from saliva, which in turn keeps the teeth from re-mineralizing. Its similar to a heavy, sugary syrups which is not good for the teeth either.


Sorbitol and Saccharin are both artificial sweeteners which are very harmful to the human body. (There is a long list of reasons why they are so harmful, I will post an article for more info.)

PVM/MA is a synthetic plastic which helps keeps ingredients bound together. It can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Fun, ha?

SLS is a good one. It has been making headlines lately, and you have probably seen labels that say "sls free" on more and more cosmetic products. There is good reason for that. SLS is a foaming agent, its what makes our soaps all bubbly. Its also used as a de-greaser in cleaning agents. It is said to be toxic and when absorbed it can damage cells in the body. It is corrosive to the skin, it has been linked to cancer and organ toxicity. It is also an endocrine (hormone) disruptor and it actually helps other toxins absorb more easily into the body. It's used as a pesticide too! I'd say if you want to take it one step at a time, begin with buying products that are sls free. There are many options out there.

Propelyn glycol helps the toothpaste retain it's moisture so it doesn't dry out. like the glycerin. It is also used as antifreeze in break fluid and paints. It can be quickly absorbed into the body and can lead to organ abnormalities.

Although there are more ingredients on this list that I didn't explain in detail, I think we all get the point. Most of them are highly processed with harsh chemicals, or they are artificial to begin with. So they might leave your teeth and mouth smelling fresh and looking great, and in the long run, these commonly used toothpaste ingredients can cause more harm than that clean feeling mouth might be worth. If our toothpastes worked so well, as they claim, to keep our mouth's healthy and white, why is it that over 90% of American adults have tooth decay?!

Remember, knowledge is power if used in the right way. The journey to a healthier life style is just that, a journey! So don't feel overwhelmed by this list, there are many options for better, cleaner toothpastes. I'll keep you posted =). For now, happy clean teeth to all!

Empowering our children

People often ask me how I get my kids to eat kale, fresh herbs, to brush their teeth with home made coconut based toothpaste, etc...
The truth is, I don't get them to do any of it. They do it on their own. Let me explain.
My husband has a beautiful little garden in the front of our house. He grows many things like tomatoes, limes. moringa, different herbs, beets, radishes, carrots and much more. If you ask him about "his" garden he'll tell you that its really the kid's. They are very active participants in the whole process of growing our food, from the time the little seedlings are planted until the produce is ready to be cut and eaten. They water the plants, and check on them daily. They save their peels from fruits and vegetables to put into the compost so our soil is more potent. They make sure to cultivate the herbs gently and properly so the plants won't get damaged. And then, after seeing the fruits of their labor, literally, they are more than happy and willing to eat any and all of what is growing outside.
They munch on basil on their way to school and pick some moringa on their way to play. I don't think they'd be as excited if I told them "kids, go get your moringa and eat it!" They want to eat the beautiful foods in front of them because they took part in helping the food get there. This is so empowering for children.
The same goes for using the toothpaste and taking their supplements and anything else I try to incorporate. I teach them about what these things do for their bodies, and what each ingredient contributes to their health,  how it helps them grow, keep their teeth strong and healthy and then I let them decide for themselves. Most of the time they choose the toothpaste that doesn't taste great, they remind ME to give them their supplements and occasionally someone will ask if they could "do oil pulling" because their tooth hurts.
I have to say that it gives me great pleasure when they make the healthier choice. I love it. It even makes me laugh at times.
And I am grateful that my husband tells the kids that this beautiful garden is their's, and that Hashem guides them to use their knowledge and inner strength to make those better choices.
I feel like if we want our kids to be healthier in today's day and age, with all the horrendous "foods" they are constantly bombarded with, we need to teach them about healthy alternatives, and then gently guide and encourage them, and ask Hashem to help them choose wisely, even if it means standing out in a crowd of candy eaters. Eventually their friends might follow and that will instill even more confidence in a child. Yes, its hard to stand out in crowd, and kids don't want to be different. There is a fine line here which we as parents need to learn to balance. The point is    knowledge is power. Lets give our kids the knowledge so they have the power to make better, healthier choices.
Shabbat shalom to all!
Mishi =)

Simple, quick school snack ideas

Hey Everyone!
I wanted to share some snack ideas with you. Some friends have been asking me what I send my kids to school with everyday. I don't buy any processed snacks from the store, so I have to get creative and change it up every so often, but here are a few that my kids really enjoy. It might seem time consuming to make these, but I make enough to last the whole week so I don't even have to think about what to give them once all my batches are made.

Fruit leathers:
There are many ways to make these, and I have found a simple way that really works. Take some bags of frozen fruits of your choice. Let them get a little mushy at room temp before blending. You can throw in a banana or coconut flakes, or anything you like. Blend and spread a very thin, almost transparent layer (if you want them super thin) over parchment paper on a cookie sheet.
Bake at 170 degrees for about 8 hours or as long as it takes for the mixture to be firm and not liquid anymore.
Just peel off the parchment paper and roll them into fruit rolls! You can also bake them at 250 for a few hours if you want to get a crunchy fruit snack. Just break into pieces and enjoy!

kale chips:
For this recipe I get some bags of pre washed organic kale. Spread them on a cookie sheet, toss with some coconut or grapeseed oil and sea salt. Bake at 350 for about ten minutes or until they reach your desired texture. Some of my kids like them crunchy and some like them soggy, so I leave them in until the top layer is really crunchy, while the bottom leaves stay soggy.
Kale chips get really soggy after a day so I try to make these fresh. It takes just a few minutes!

Macaroons:
I don't use specific measurements for this recipe. I just toss in a bunch of yummy ingredients like coconut flour, almond flour, coconut oil, cocoa powder, cinnamon, raw honey, peanut butter, coconut flakes, etc.
Mix all the ingredients, refrigerate for a few hours and roll into balls! Walla! You can also add eggs to the recipe and bake at 350 for about ten minutes.

Popcorn:
I buy Eden Organics non GMO pop corn kernels. Heat some coconut oil and sea salt, add in the kernels and there you have some yummy pop corn. (If any of your kids are suffering from tooth decay I would stay away from the popcorn.)

Date balls:
Throw some dates, almonds or almond flour and some coconut oil into the food processor and roll the mixture into little balls and freeze. You can even sprinkle them with cinnamon or coconut flakes once they are made into balls.

Fruit cups:
Just dice up some watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, apples, limes,  etc.
You can add a little lemon juice if your kids don't like when the apples turn brown.

I hope these recipes help. More to come.
To health!
Mishi

The Journey of the journey

Hey everyone!
I have been asked so much lately "how did you start eating healthy, what made you change, how did you start, how do you do all that, how do you cook that way...its so overwhelming!!?"
So I started doing some thinking. Thinking back to the beginning of my journey of healthy eating, healing and living, I can't believe I have come so far. At the same time, there is always more to learn. Over the years I have always thought "that's it! I did it, I reached the highest level in the health world" And then, as I read and learn more, I discover there is so much more out there. This, I feel is the blessing of being health conscious. Its a journey, not a destination. No one will ever reach the end.
So I tell people my start was just that, a start. I think the first change I made was from white rice to brown, then I stopped buying anything with added sugars. That was years ago, and now I make more things from scratch than I actually buy at a store, and I seldom go into a conventional supermarket.
This is where I am now, this is my happy place. I love to make healthy alternatives for family from scratch, I love my garden, thanks to my husband and kids who are great farmers!

The point is, not everyone has to reach this place, nor do they have to make the switch from white to brown rice. We just need to start small, to feel whats right each of us individually  and for our families. Also,  make sure you have an amazing support system and mentors to call on!

Its one step at a time, to make the change to a healthier lifestyle. One tiny step can and will make all the difference!

To happy and healthy eating and healing!

Seasons and instincts

Hi everyone,
It has been a while. I wanted to share some inspiration, please comment if you shared the same experiences.  I love watching how my children eat with the seasons. Over the summer they gobbled up peaches, nectarine, plums, cherries. They had all the summer fruits at the little fingertips. Here in NY the summer fruit season is ending and we are starting to get some big and small beautiful apples. I have still been buying the last few juicy peaches and nectarines and my kids haven't touched them. The fruits they could eat all day, just a few weeks ago, are not even on their radar anymore. They're back to gobbling up apples. Their bodies just know what's right for them at the right times of year. Our bodies are so sensitive and also so good at indicating what they need. Follow your body's natural cravings and see how you feel.

In Brooklyn we have an awesome food coop. It's got the most incredible, local, fresh produce for great prices. It's also always packed with people and long lines so they're isn't always the luxury of looking around at the beautiful fruits and veggies to think about you want. I got lucky yesterday. The produce section was practically empty! So I took my time and stood there staring at all the glorious greens. I got to use my senses to decide what I was in the mood of eating and cooking. I let my instincts and nose tell me what my body wanted. I was totally wrapped up in the smells and colors and I chose quite a few things that I have rarely used or never used at all. It was a very reviving experience. Let your senses guide you to make better, healthier food choices for yourself and your family.
Have a wonderful day!

Bees, honey and all the good stuff...

What do you think of when you hear the word bees? Do you think of creepy little bugs that sting if you get too close? I used to. And I'm sure many of you do too. But then we got bees. Yes, real live bees. And my husband promted and encouraged me to join him in doing lots of reading and learning about those creepy little bugs. And now, months and months later my opinion of the little bee has changed greatly. (Except when they wind up flying around inside the house and I have to call my kids to catch them.)
Bees are fascinating, brilliant little creatures that create one of the healthiest, most medicinal foods on earth. Everything in their comb is edible and full of powerful vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and enzymes that can act as medicine for humans under many different circumstances. I'm going to briefly list a few benefits for the main bee products. But there's far more to know than what will be listed here. 

Lets start with the honey. Now when I say honey I don't mean the liquid stuff you buy in a squeezy bear, which is most cases is not even honey at all. I'm talking about the raw, unprocessed and unfiltered honey which is usually thicker, tastier and can come in a variety of different colors. Raw honey can have antibiotic and  anti bacterial effects and can treat many internal disorders as well as healing external wounds. Remember, it's gotta be raw honey (not heated) to retain all of its health benefits!

A note about honey: it's best to know the source (apiary/farmer) of your honey. Many bottles can say raw and organic but that doesn't necessarily mean that the bees haven't been treated with pesticides or pollinated flowers with pesticides. Knowing where your honey comes from can assure you of the highest and purest quality.

Next there's bee pollen. The pollen is collected by the bees from thousands of flowers and flown back to the hive where it's mixed with nectar to make the honey. It's full of antioxidants, 18 vitamins including all the B vitamins except B 12. It's got all the amino acids, fatty acids and protein too! It's great for increasing your energy and alleviating allergies!

Propolis. Our kids call propolis "bees gum". It's a sticky, waxy resin that the bees use to seal up their hive and fill in any cracks. Propolis has antibiotic, antibacterial, antifungal,  anti microbial and anti inflammatory effects which help keep the bees inside the hive free of unwanted bacteria and viruses. 
It's full of vitamins and is a huge immune system booster. We like to just chew it straight from the hive but there are different ways you can consume propolis. Any health food store would have propolis in different forms, along with all the other fabulous bee products. 

So go ahead and try someing new. If you're suffering from allergies, need a good immune boost or just want to add something super beneficial to your diet, bee products might just be the thing! And if you ever want to stop by for a visit, our bees love visitors!

If you ever want to sample some raw, unfiltered honey, come over and visit us for a taste!

Top ten foods to give your kids when they refuse to eat.

Hey Everyone,
I have put together a list of the top ten foods to feed your kids when they refuse to eat dinner. A lot of times our kids come home from school, tired, hungry and cranky. And they often don't want to eat dinner either. This can be really stressful for a mom who just wants to see her kids EAT!

So here are some ideas that will fill your little ones up, and provide them with many vitamins, minerals and energy they need! Keep in mind, you can always add in nuts, raw honey, coconut oil, etc. to any of these foods for enhanced flavor and extra fat and calories (You can buy coconut oil and honey in almost any health food store, and although they sound a little "out there", once you try them you'll see they are a normal and easy addition to your meals and snacks.) You don't have to stress anymore, feeding your kids will be easier than ever...

1. Carrot and almonds-
Carrots are full of calcium, vitamin C and A and fiber! They also have carotenoids which help protect our eyes, and are fat soluble vitamins so when eaten with fat (almonds), they absorb more efficiently and easily into the blood stream. Almonds are high in monounsaturated fat, calories and are a highly satiating food. Just what a little tummy needs before bed.

2. Oatmeal (made from whole oats, try to avoid packages) with berries-
Oats contains a powerful component which lowers cholesterol levels, enhances the immune system and helps stabilize blood sugar. Oats have powerful anti-oxidants, fiber and protein. There are 8 1/2 grams of protein for 2/3 a cup.
Blueberries are considered to be brain food because their anti oxidants and anti inflammatory properties boost brain function and helps keep your memory clear. Also, blueberries can help fight off all kinds of diseases.
The same goes for raspberries which are extremely high in fiber and are a good source of vitamin k, among many others. Strawberries also have many disease fighting properties.

3.Apple and peanut butter-
Apples have very strong anti oxidant power and many disease fighting properties. They have free compounds which means their minerals aren't bound to anything so they are free to easily absorb into your bloodstream.  They are full of fiber, and a rich source of nutrients.
Peanut butter of course is a good source of healthy fat and protein. And peanuts also have many anti oxidants.

4. Avocado-
A good source of monounsaturated fat, lots of calories and low on sugar. Avocados provide a lot of energy for our bodies. Monounsaturated fat lowers bad cholesterol and raises the good cholesterol. It is also very good for your heart. Avocados also contain lutein which protects our eyes and skin. Its also high in fiber and potassium. Its an all around win win food!

5. Kiwi and pineapple fruit salad (perhaps with some nuts on the side)-
Kiwis are loaded with potassium and have twice the amount of vitamin C as a orange. Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain which aids digestion, reduces inflammation (which many of us suffer from), and speeds wound healing. It is also a great source of the mineral manganese, which builds strong bones and healthy skin. Its also high in vitamin C.

6.Walnuts and dates-
Walnuts are super high in omega 3's which help boost our moods, support brain function and can lessen behavioral problems! They are nutrient dense and help alleviate hunger. They've also got protein in them. So much substance in such a small nut!
Dates are great for that sweet tooth and they also contain fiber, calcium, magnesium and a good amount of calories. (Yes, they are full of sugar, but its from a healthy source so it should not be a problem for the average child who is not obese, or suffering from blood sugar problems.)

7. Hard boiled eggs-
Eggs are one of the best sources of protein out there. They are loaded with vitamins and minerals that help protect your brain and heart. The choline in yolks helps prevent cholesterol build up. They are high in fat which means energy! They are best at retaining most of their nutrients when poached or boiled, but eaten anyway you like is perfectly fine too.

8. Fruit smoothie-
Add in any fresh or frozen fruit you like. Use coconut water as the liquid and try not to add in any sugar. Fruits are sweet enough. You can also sneak in a handful of greens like spinach, and maybe some coconut oil or crushed almonds if your kids don't mind the taste. Smoothies are a great way to get in all kinds of nutrients without anyone ever knowing!

9. Sweet potatoes-
Not only are sweet potatoes super sweet and delicious, they are also high in fiber and potassium and contain many disease fighting properties. They are also full of anti oxidants and anti inflammatories. They're great boiled, or sliced and baked with some olive oil sprinkled on top. You can even try cinnamon for a sweeter flavor.

10. Bananas-
Everyone knows bananas are high in potassium and fiber. But there is a little known fact about bananas too. Bananas contain something called FOS (abbreviated for a word too long to spell), which act as food for the good bacteria in our gut, like pro-biotics. These bacteria need food to grow and the number one source of this food in fruits is from the banana. Now how awesome is that?!