#GreenUp2019: Body Care

#GreenUp2019 is a month long challenge taking place this January, helping our audience make greener, cleaner decisions. For more information on the challenge, read here and follow along on our Instagram.

you could win big.

Be sure to follow along on our Instagram, and post photos of your swaps or DIY concoctions using the hashtag #GreenUp2019 for the chance to win prizes. This is our last challenge, so be sure to post this week!

We’re also excited to announce more details on our GRAND PRIZE. The ultimate #GreenUp2019 package will include a free year long membership & $50 shopping credit to Thrive Market, goodies from Beekeepers Naturals, a Home Cleaning Bundle from Meliora, a Laundry Bundle from MyGreenFills, and much more! You don’t wanna miss out on this, and its not too late to enter.

Greening Up How You care for your body

For our final #GreenUp2019 post, we’re taking a look at how you can green-up your body care. Body care can seem broad and vague, so to clarify, we’re including self care and food here—two things that deeply affect our bodies.

In just about every area of body care, there are simple methods we can take on that are not only better for our bodies, but better for the planet.

what to avoid when caring for your body

There are countless ingredients we could list here, so instead, here are a couple of categories to stay alert about with regards to greener care for your body.

GMO’s and conventional ingredients

A GMO (genetically modified organism) is the result of a laboratory process that takes genes from one species and inserts them into another in an attempt to obtain a desired trait or characteristic.

GMO crops are slowly polluting our land here in the United States, not to mention that there have never been any long term human studies on GMOs and what they do to us. Avoid at all costs!

Pesticides are responsible for a variety of health related issues, and many are related to our endocrine (hormone secretion) system. The Mayo Clinic states, “The body’s endocrine system includes the pancreas, the thyroid, parathyroid, pineal, hypothalamus, adrenal and pituitary glands, and the ovaries and testes. It also involves many other organs that respond to, modify or metabolize hormones.”

greenwashing

Companies of all sizes use greenwashing to trick consumers through creative branding into believing they are choosing healthier options.

By using specific phrases like “all-natural” or “sustainably produced,” and visuals associated with health and nature, companies give the impression they are more environmentally friendly and healthier than they truly are.

Don’t be fooled by pictures of fruit, farms or any other faux-branding. There are no regulations on the images a company can use on their packaging. Even though you’re buying a bag of fried potatoes, the image on the packaging of fresh vegetables being pulled from the earth by a burly farmer can easily convince consumers they’re making healthy choice.

ingredient watch list

If you’re not sure about specific ingredients, you can always refer to our Ingredient Watch List. This is a comprehensive collection of all our blog posts related to dangerous, toxic ingredients.

products to use instead

organic

Eating organically while avoiding conventional and GMO produce is one way to ensure your body is nourished and not exposed to dangerous pesticides.

The benefits of eating organic outweigh eating conventionally grown food. Not only does your skin, body, and health benefit from organic food, but so does the environment.

natural remedies

Crafting natural remedies is one of the best ways to ensure your products are preservative free and made with high quality ingredients. This can range from crafting your own tea blend when you’re sick, to creating your own body products. You can search our DIY archives here.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

Groceries: Thrive Market

Thrive Market makes shopping for healthy groceries much easier and less expensive. They offer organic, non-GMO foods, and natural products—things like Dr. Bronner’s soap, fair trade chocolate, and Bob’s Red Mill flours.

They’re our ultimate resource for finding greener, cleaner products. From the food you eat to the products you use on your body, Thrive is the place to shop.

Plus, they’re offering a free gift worth up to $54 if you shop here!

Oral Health: The Dirt

Oral care products are crucial to body health, and too many oral health products contain synthetic ingredients and toxic chemicals. Enter The Dirt. The Dirt Paleo Personal Care was founded after their founder, Shannon, noticed that her favorite natural products used ingredients that were highly processed and questionably safe.

All of their products are soy free, corn free, gluten free, grain free, cruelty free and natural. Everything about their product blends are intentional (and awesome). The Dirt takes ‘natural’ to the next level, using blends made with the highest quality natural ingredients. We love their tongue scraper and toothpaste!

Staying Well: Beekeepers Naturals

If you’re looking to green up how you boost your immune system, we recommend Beekeepers Naturals. They offer a wide range of sustainably sourced products, including  propolis spray, several different types of honey, raw bee pollen, and dynamic formulas that are made to help boost the immune system and brain function.

Their business model is clean, sustainable, and ethical. They work with remote farms and apiaries to support bee colonies all over the Canadian North. They work exclusively with small scale green beekeepers who have over 5 miles surrounding area of organic grounds (bees forage for up to 5 miles so they ensure the bees have pesticide free food sources.) Yum!

Plus, Beekeeper’s Naturals is offering 10% off all orders with Coupon Code ASCLOVE10.

Morning Ritual: Four Sigmatic

Four Sigmatic has whole line of some of best sourced mushroom products out there, including mushroom infused coffee and coffee substitutes. If you’re looking to green up your morning routine, this is one of our favorite ways. (Plus, your hormones and adrenals will thank you for cutting back on the coffee.)

And of course, we’re always interested in sustainable sourcing, so we were really happy to find out that Four Sigmatic has an amazing process that keeps the mushroom populations safe while still diving into the deep benefits that the mushrooms offer.

DIY

With endless DIY’s to choose from, we thought we’d close off with a luxurious one that showers your body with eco friendly love and keeps ultra natural self care in mind.

invigorating lemon olive oil body scrub

This is a great cleansing scrub for reducing your risk of oily skin. The olive oil helps to balance out the lemon, so your skin will be left clean but not dry.

We recommend adding rosemary or grapefruit essential oil to this. Both are invigorating, stimulating, and also help keep oily skin and clogged pores in check.

INGREDIENTS:

• ¾ cup olive oil
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• Juice of one lemon
• Zest from 2 lemons
• A couple drops of your favorite invigorating essential oil.

DIRECTIONS:

Combine olive oil and sugar first, followed by the lemon juice and rind. Finish by adding essential oil—rosemary and grapefruit are both invigorating and good for your skin.

Apply to skin in circular motions, then rinse off.

You did it!

Thank you for participating in our #GreenUp2019 challenge, and congrats! You made it to the end of January, and we’re proud of you. Be sure to share your experience on Instagram, using the hashtag #GreenUp2019 for the chance to win our grand prize!