From multicolored varieties of hummus to the newly popular Impossible Burger, you’ve probably noticed plant-based protein steadily making its way onto grocery shelves and restaurant menus. And you’ve probably heard that incorporating more plants into your diet is beneficial for both for the health of the body and the future of the planet. It’s true: People who eat more plants and less meat have reduced rates of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Plus, most agricultural crops use far less water than livestock and create fewer harmful greenhouse gases. All told, there are plenty of good reasons to get more plant protein in our diet. It’s not surprising that nearly one-third of Americans report actively seeking it out.

If you’re a dyed-in-the-wool carnivore, the idea of replacing the beef in your burger with soy may sound off-putting or even depressing. But getting more plant-based protein really doesn’t have to be unappetizing—nor does it have to be difficult!

Here’s a look at several plants that pack high amounts of protein, and a variety of creative ways to incorporate them into foods and cuisines you probably already eat.

Seeds, Nuts, and Nut Butters

Seeds and their agricultural cousins nuts are regarded as health foods for good reason. One 2018 study showed that people who ate more nuts and seeds and less red meat had a threefold decreased risk of heart disease. Another revealed that eating nuts was associated with better chances of recovering from colon cancer.

In addition to fiber, micronutrients, and good fats, these natural bite-sized snacks contain plenty of protein—and a little bit goes a long way. Just a one-ounce handful of peanuts can contain up to seven grams of protein, and the same amount of pumpkin seeds packs five to seven grams. (For reference, the Daily Value for protein is 50 grams.)

Some protein-packed nuts and seeds to experiment with include:

• Almonds
• Cashews
• Peanuts
• Hazelnuts
• Pistachios
• Flax seeds
• Chia seeds
• Sunflower seeds

Need some inspiration for how to include more nuts and seeds in your diet? “Go nuts” by:

1. Sprinkling chopped walnuts or pecans on top of cereal or oatmeal
2. Adding a scoop of flaxseed meal to baked goods
3. Trying a new kind of dessert with chia seed pudding
4. Topping salads with almonds or pistachios
5. Opting for a trail mix of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit as an afternoon snack

Nut and seed butters are another way to reap the benefits of plant proteins, and the options extend far beyond your basic peanut butter and jelly. Include nut or seed butters in meals and snacks by:

1. Spreading sunflower seed butter on toast with sliced banana
2. Adding peanut or almond butter to smoothies
3. Experimenting with a nut butter in desserts, like hazelnut butter brownies or almond butter truffles
4. Using tahini (ground sesame seeds) as a dressing on salads or to add flavor to vegetable dishes

Grains

If you don’t think of grains as a source of protein, you’re not alone. With grains and protein kept in their own separate categories on many nutrition educational materials (such as MyPlate), the messaging around these two food groups can be a bit confusing. But grains can provide surprising doses of protein all by themselves. Quinoa contains eight grams per cup, and the same amount of wild rice and whole wheat pasta each contain around seven grams. Make a meal centered around one of these options and you’ll knock out a substantial portion of your daily protein requirement.

Grains that pack significant amounts of protein include:

• Brown and wild rice
• Whole wheat breads and pastas
• Quinoa
• Amaranth
• Millet
• Couscous
• Oats

Go bold with high-protein grains in your diet by:

1. Choosing whole wheat pizza crust or pasta over the white variety
2. Making a zesty Mexican quinoa bowl
3. Frying crispy couscous cakes in heart-healthy olive oil
4. Switching out your morning cereal for higher-protein oatmeal
5. Trying a less familiar grain like bulgur or freekeh as a hearty addition to a salad

Legumes

Legumes are one of nature’s healthiest foods. Low in fat and packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, these humble plants deserve a lot more credit than they usually get. They’re also an excellent source of protein. One cup of chickpeas or black beans contains almost 80 percent of your Daily Value, while a cup of lentils can fulfill over a third of your protein needs for the day. While beans may cause digestive troubles for some people, in general they’re well worth adding to your diet wherever possible.

Some high-protein legumes include:

• Chickpeas
• Lentils (red, green, yellow, black, or brown)
• Black beans
• Cannellini beans
• Kidney beans
• Pinto beans

Work more legumes into your meals and snacks by:

1. Substituting beans for beef (or going half and half) in burgers
2. Filling tacos with spiced lentils instead of meat
3. Mashing chickpeas with mayonnaise and herbs to serve in a wrap
4. Making a savory bean soup, like Cuban black bean or a vegetarian chili
5. Using hummus as a sandwich spread
6. Rounding out pasta dishes with the addition of cannellini beans or chickpeas

Soy

Tofu has long been the poster child of the health food movement—and not necessarily with positive connotations. Anti-tofu sentiment has been fueled by consumer concerns about the effects of soy on breast cancer risk and reduced testosterone in men. For the record, however, research has actually shown that eating soy in moderation does not cause cancer and does not alter male reproductive hormone levels.

Despite its sometimes controversial reputation, soy actually boasts a number of health benefits, with sizable amounts of nutrients like calcium, iron, and, of course, protein. One cup of tofu provides 20 grams of protein, and you’ll get 17 grams from a cup of edamame.

There are multiple options for soy foods, such as:

• Tempeh
• Soy milk
• Edamame
• Tofu (ranging from soft to extra firm)
• Miso
• Soy nuts

Experiment with incorporating soy into your diet by:

1. Blending silky tofu into smoothies for extra creaminess
2. Whipping edamame with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil for an easy dip with crudites
3. Using soy milk in place of cow’s milk in baked goods and sauces, and on cereal
4. Replacing meat with tempeh or crispy tofu in Asian meals like stir-fries or noodle dishes

Last Word

Even a slow-and-steady approach of increasing your intake of plant protein can yield dramatic results for your health. If you’ve always been a big meat eater, don’t be afraid to start small with just a few of these suggestions. The more you replace animal products with plants in your diet, the more you may find nuts, grains, legumes, and soy can make delicious additions to breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks—and, quite possibly, the better you’ll feel.

Read Next: 8 Signs You Aren’t Getting Enough Protein

The post 24 Creative Ways to Get More Plant Protein in Your Diet appeared first on Natural Living Ideas.

You probably think you know the many ways to reduce your carbon footprint, like turning the lights off, walking instead of driving, and using reusable bags at the grocery store. But there are probably many things you do on a daily basis that you don’t realize are hurting the environment – and, even if they seem small, they can add up in a big way. While you may not be able to cut out or limit everything, even focusing on small changes can have a big impact.

1. Antibacterial Soap

We hope you aren’t still using antibacterial soaps, as they’re not only said to be a significant factor in the rise of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs,” but they’re bad for the environment too. The chemical triclosan, which is the active ingredient in most antibacterial soaps, has been found to create dioxin when exposed to sunlight and chloroform, and continues to build up in the environment. It’s been detected after treatment at sewage plants, and surveys by the United States Geological Service have frequently discovered it in streams and other bodies of water. Once in the environment, it can disrupt algae’s ability to perform photosynthesis.

Researchers out of the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that after flushing antibacterial products down the drain, about 75 perfect of triclosan and triclocarbon compounds survive treatment at sewage plants. They end up in waterways, in sludge spread on agricultural fields, and possibly on produce too, according to the environmentalhealth.ca.

Dr. Rolf Halden, Ph.D, lead author of the study, said, “…we mass-produce and use a toxic chemical which the Food and Drug Administration has determined has no scientifically proven benefit…when we try to do the right thing by recycling nutrients contained in biosolids, we end up spreading a known reproductive toxicant on the soil where we grow our food. The study shows just how important it is”.

2. You’re Using Chemical-Filled Household Cleaning Products

Chemicals in household cleaning products also harm the environment in many different ways, whether they’re released into the air when used or poured into the drain, seeping into the water system. This hurts both our indoor and outdoor air, contributing to air as well as water pollution, and has toxic and reproductive effects on aquatic species in addition to adversely affecting the water we drink, contributing to climate change and damaging precious ecosystems.

This negative impact can occur at many points throughout a product’s lifecycle, from extracting the raw materials and manufacturing to packaging, distribution, product usage, and disposal. Here are our top picks of natural non-toxic cleaning products available. 

3. Feminine Hygiene Products

Feminine hygiene products pose multiple dangers to your health and to the environment.

Founder of Naturally Savvy, Andrea Donsky, conducted extensive research into these commonly used female products and published her findings in a 2013 article titled, Conventional Feminine Hygiene Products: A Women’s Issue With Toxic Implications.

According to her research, each conventional sanitary pad contained the equivalent of about four plastic bags. Numerous studies have revealed the hazards of plastic chemicals, including substances like BPA which can disrupt embryonic development and increase the risk of several types of cancers. Phthalates, which is what gives a plastic tampon applicator a smooth feel, have been associated with dysregulate gene expression and DEHP, which can lead to multiple organ damage. Plastic and other synthethic materials also restrict the flow of air, trapping heat and dampness, potentially promoting yeast and bacteria growth in the vaginal area.

Not surprisingly, there are not only a lot of dangers to your body, but to the environment as well. Over a lifetime, women use thousands of sanitary care products. All those pesticides and plastic chemical compounds are also leached into the environment. If just one conventional sanitary pad is equal to four plastic bags – and we already know the detrimental effects they have, just imagine how much just one person is contributing to the devastation of our environment?

That doesn’t mean giving up hygiene, just be sure to look for organic, cloth pads made with cotton, hemp or even bamboo, and for heavier days, or when you’re especially active and find that a pad won’t work, look for a reusable menstrual cup made with natural, non-toxic materials such as gum rubber.

4. Laundry

The average family is reported to do at least eight loads of washing every week, equating to more than 400 loads every year, and about 17.5 billion cups of laundry detergent that are being used annually in the U.S. alone. That’s a lot of chemicals to come in contact with. Some of the worst offenders when it comes to laundry chemicals include:

• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)/sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
• 1,4-dioxane
• NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate)
• Phosphates

These chemicals aren’t just potentially damaging to your health, but they are also harming the health of our environment and contaminating our waterways. The Journal of Oleo Science reported that a laundry detergent concentration of only 2 ppm can cause fish to absorb double the amount of chemicals they would ordinarily absorb. The accumulation of these compounds in our waterways and groundwater is having a significant negative effect on our wildlife.

According to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews, research studies on laundry detergent chemicals like SLS have shown an association with everything from minor to major health issues, like skin and eye irritation, organ toxicity, developmental or reproductive toxicity, possible mutations, cancer, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and biochemical or cellular changes. Use a homemade, non-chemical version like this one instead. 

5. Cleaning Up Dog Poop

We’re definitely not advocating that you should just leave your dog’s poop lying around, but what you shouldn’t do, is pick it up using plastic bags, which is what many pet owners tend to do. Care2 reported that in 2012, there were 78 million dogs in the U.S., creating 10 million tons of feces every year. If everyone used plastic bags to pick it all up, well, that’s an awful lot of plastic bags sitting in the landfill. According to the Los Angeles Times, plastic bags of poop account for 4% of the municipal waste in San Francisco’s landfills, as much as the whole city’s disposable diapers. Take a look at these eco=friendly, biodegradable dog waste bags from See Spot Go on Amazon. 

6. You Leave Your Computer Monitor On

Many people believe the myth that it’s better to leave your computer monitor on standby mode rather than to turn it off and on every day. But Energy.gov says that you should turn your monitor off completely if you’re going to be away from it for more than 20 minutes.

7. Using Bleached Coffee Filters

You may think that because coffee filters can go straight into the compost bin, there’s no harm in using them, but if you’re using the bleached type, it can contribute to significant harm. That’s because most are bleached using chlorine and contains dioxins, which are a known toxin. Plus they’re typically made using un-recycled paper. This is an easy fix, however. Just choose brown paper filters that are made from recyclable materials instead like these ones on Amazon, or a reusable stainless steel or cloth filter.

8. You’re Always Getting The Latest New Tech Gadget

There are lots of people who always “have” to have the latest new tech gadget. It doesn’t matter if the change from the last version is minute, they’re lining up to buy the latest and greatest. But that’s a big part of the problem when it comes to the environment. What happens to all of those “old” gadgets? They’re thrown away. In fact, in 2012, a group of UN organizations reported that there are over 48 million tons of them thrown away every single year – 11 times heavier than the weight of 200 Empire State Buildings.

Even if you recycle your old electronic gadget when prematurely upgrading, odds are, it’s still causing harm as just 13 percent of electronic waste is reported to be disposed of and recycled properly.

9. Eating Farmed Fish

Eating farmed fish is bad for your health and the environment. That’s because the food the fish are given often contains antibiotics and other drugs. That means that the food the fish don’t eat drops to the bottom of the water and dissolves. Algae is also common in fish farms and can develop into red tide, harming other species.

Offshore aquaculture, even when well-engineered, brings the risk of fish escapement, which can spread disease to our natural ecosystems. About a fifth of the world’s valuable mangrove forests has been destroyed due to shrimp farming in Asia. Wild fish are part of an interconnected web, which means they feed other species, protect watersheds, and nourish ecosystems, not to mention providing a livelihood for traditional fishing communities.

10. Your Flushing Habits

One of the easiest habits to break that harms the environment is flushing every time you go. If you flush even just once or twice less a week, it will have a significant difference in the amount of water you use.

Also remember that just because you can flush something, it doesn’t mean you should. Things like tampons, applicators and certain kinds of wipes, don’t dissolve like toilet paper, but instead, settles or clumps up, creating blockages that can lead to damaging sewer leaks.

The post 10 Unexpected Ways You’re Hurting The Environment At Home appeared first on Natural Living Ideas.

Long before the invention of sugary sodas, energy drinks, and vitamin water, there was switchel.

An old-timey beverage to be sure, switchel is many things – thirst-quenching, refreshing, energizing, healthful – and it has recently regained some of the limelight it once enjoyed, thanks to both hipsters and health enthusiasts alike.

While it is believed to have originated in the hot tropics of the Caribbean, switchel was a popular refreshment in the American colonies (particularly New England) in the 17^th century.

Drank by sailors, laborers, politicians, and university students (who had a habit of spiking it with rum), switchel was a beverage for everyone regardless of social or economic status.

And it’s easy to see why.

Switchel is a concoction that is perfect for combatting long days in sweltering heat, allowing imbibers to keep cool and stay hydrated. In fact, farmers working the fields would often guzzle it by the jug, giving it its other name, haymaker’s punch.

Easy to make, switchel contains just four basic ingredients: water, vinegar, sweetener, and ginger.

It was a popular alternative to ice water, which was very difficult to obtain before the age of ice boxes and freezers, and physicians of the era warned against drinking it because they believed cold drinks on hot days would cause indigestion.

Although it was originally made with vinegar, water, and either molasses, honey, or maple syrup as a sweetener, eventually ginger was added to the mix to prevent bloating, allowing people to drink it all day long without worrying about upsetting their stomachs.

But what does it taste like?

Though on paper the combination may seem strange, switchel strikes a nice balance between tartness (apple cider vinegar), sweetness (maple syrup), and spiciness (ginger).

The Benefits of Drinking Switchel:

Those early American settlers were certainly on to something when they discovered switchel.

They may not have known then just why this beverage was so revitalizing, but today we have the benefit of a deeper understanding of human biology and the restorative power of plant compounds.

1. It Restores Electrolytes

Electrolytes are minerals present in bodily fluids, like blood and urine, that carry an electrical charge.

We need these positively or negatively charged ions in our bodies – they transmit the voltage needed for many physiological functions such as muscle contractions and nerve signalling.

We lose electrolytes anytime we exercise, sweat, or go to the bathroom. Most commonly, electrolyte imbalance occurs during times of dehydration – when we lose fluids through rigorous physical activity or when we get the flu.

The telltale signs of an electrolyte imbalance include muscle aches, anxiety, headaches, heart palpitations, stomach cramps, joint pain, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and dizziness.

But electrolytes can be quickly replenished by consuming things that contain electrically-charged minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and chloride.

Because switchel is made with apple cider vinegar – a rich source of potassium – and pure maple syrup (which also contains potassium, as well as calcium, magnesium, and sodium), it’s an all-natural alternative to sugary sports drinks that will help maintain a good electrolyte balance in the body.

2. It Helps Ease Pain & Inflammation

It’s no wonder that farmers toiling all day turned to switchel as their refreshment of choice: it combats pain and inflammation, allowing them to work just as hard the following day.

And indeed, switchel is a wonderful post-workout tonic.

The key ingredient here is the presence of ginger, which not only suppresses pro-inflammatory enzymes associated with the aches and pains that often accompany intense exercise, it can also help with other expressions of inflammation like acne, arthritis, eczema, depression, and the physical signs of aging.

Gingerol – the active constituent of ginger – is an effective pain-reliever too, which works just as well as over-the-counter medications used to alleviate pain, but without any adverse side effects.

3. Get Your Daily Dose of Apple Cider Vinegar

In addition to replenishing electrolytes, there’s a lot of good reasons to imbibe apple cider vinegar!

It helps balance the body’s pH levels, keeps blood sugar levels balanced, aids in digestion by fostering the growth of healthy gut bacteria, protects the heart, and promotes healthy weight loss.

While taking one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with one cup of water may not be the most alluring beverage on the planet, switchel offers a tasty way to get your ACV fix.

Want to learn how to make your own supply of apple cider vinegar? You can read our tutorial here.

4. Enjoy the Healthful Effects of Ginger

Unless you are already consuming an ample amount of ginger in your diet, you really don’t want to miss out on the amazing benefits of eating (or in this case, drinking) ginger.

Among ginger’s myriad benefits, it has been shown to help lower cholesterol, improve blood circulation, reduce blood sugar levels, and ease the symptoms of indigestion such as heart burn, bloating, and nausea.

Since gingerol has antioxidant properties, it can help give the brain a boost by improving mental processing, working memory, attention span, and reaction time.

5. The Hidden Wonders of Pure Maple Syrup

Although switchel can be sweetened with raw honey, the time-honored way to make it is with pure maple syrup.

Like other natural sweeteners, real maple syrup is a much healthier alternative to artificial and refined sugars.

As the only product in our diet that comes from tree sap, maple syrup is quite nutritious, containing a goodly amount of calcium, manganese, riboflavin, zinc, and potassium.

And because maple syrup is a plant-based sweetener, it also carries the advantage of a slew of antioxidants – 63 different types of free radical scavengers in fact, spanning gallic acid, catechins, and quercetin.

How To Make Traditional Switchel:

While there are several drink-manufacturers that have jumped on the switchel bandwagon (replete with extras like cherry and blueberry flavorings), it’s really easy to make your own switchel at home with these all-natural ingredients:

1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar (buy it here)
3 tablespoons of pure maple syrup (buy it here)
6 ounces of fresh ginger root
4 cups of water or club soda

Method:

To make, grate ginger root (or pass it through a juicer) until you have about half of a cup. Combine ginger, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and water in a large container, and stir until the maple syrup has completely dissolved.

If you grated your ginger, the bits will sink to the bottom of the container and this is perfectly fine.

Pour over ice for immediate enjoyment or place the jug in the fridge and let it steep for 24 hours, stirring again before serving.

Add a modern twist by including mint leaves and a tablespoon of fresh lemon or lime juice.

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The post How To Make Switchel + 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Drinking This Magical Potion appeared first on Natural Living Ideas.

Today, about 95% of Americans use deodorant, making it an $18 billion a year industry.

But in our bid to smell fresh and rosy and adhere to social norms we often subject ourselves to a host of unwanted side effects!

Here are eleven scary reasons why we shouldn’t be wearing conventional deodorants, and some natural things we can do instead to smell fragrant all day, every day…

They Contain Toxic Chemicals…

Deodorants contain a myriad of unpronounceable ingredients, many of which pose serious health concerns.

And putting chemicals on our skin may actually be worse than eating them, because they enter the bloodstream without any filtering. (Whereas when we eat, enzymes in the saliva and stomach break down what’s ingested and flush it out of the body).

…Like Hormone Disruptors…

Some of the chemicals found in deodorants and antiperspirants are known endocrine disruptors – such as a class of substances called parabens (listed under the names butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben).

These preservatives prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast, but research shows they negatively impact the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects.

…And Carcinogens…

Aluminum compounds (like aluminum chlorohydrate) are used in deodorants to block the sweat ducts.  They have been found to mimic estrogen, which promotes growth of breast cancer cells.

It should be noted that studies on breast cancer and aluminum are inconclusive due to conflicting findings, although at least one study has found that the age of breast cancer diagnosis was significantly earlier in women who used antiperspirant deodorants and shaved their underarms more frequently.

Similarly, parabens come under the spotlight in relation to breast cancer too. A 2004 study found parabens in 18 out of 20 samples of tissue from human breast tumors (although researchers cannot say the parabens caused the tumors).

…And Even Pesticides

Despite being registered as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency, an antibacterial agent called triclosan is commonly found in deodorants (and several soaps and other personal care products).

Triclosan is flagged as a risk to both human health and the environment, and animal studies have shown it alters hormone regulation and contributes to antibiotic resistant bacteria. Research has also linked triclosan with allergies, weight gain, inflammatory responses and thyroid dysfunction, and there are concerns it may interfere with fetal development in pregnant women.

Worryingly, research in 2008 found triclosan in the urine of nearly 75% of people tested!

(Discover even more toxic ingredients in your skincare products here).

They Can Irritate the Skin

Ever had a bad reaction to your deodorant? It’s not surprising.

Ingredients like silica and triclosan are known skin irritants that can cause itchiness, rash, swelling or redness. Alcohol, parabens and artificial fragrances are also prime suspects when it comes to a deodorant-induced skin reaction.

Not only is the thin skin of the armpits especially prone to allergic reactions and irritations, but the moist environment is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, making it even more important to be choosy about what you apply there.

Antiperspirants Don’t Stop Sweat!

Given all the toxic chemicals added to these products, you would think they do their job – namely, stopping perspiration. But that’s not the case.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only requires that a brand reduce sweat by 20% in order to claim it provides ‘all day protection’, according to the Wall Street Journal. Those who state their product is ‘extra strength’ need only cause a 30% reduction in dampness.

Sweating is Healthy

It’s probably a good thing that antiperspirants are pretty ineffective. After all, we’re born with between two million and four million sweat glands for a reason!

Sweating is a natural and vital process that helps the body stay cool and eliminate toxins. It also supports proper immune function, prevents diseases related to toxic overload, kills certain viruses and bacteria and cleans the skin’s pores, reducing blackheads and acne.

They Become Less Effective Over Time

Our bodies are incredibly adaptable. So much so that, given enough time, they even find a way to thwart the efforts of our strongest antiperspirant.

While scientists haven’t discovered why our deodorants become less effective over time, it’s hypothesized that the body finds a way to unplug the ducts previously blocked by the aluminum in commercial deodorants.

Experts recommend that you switch brands every six months to avoid this annoying occurrence. But why not go one better and ditch the chemical-laden sticks in favor of a more natural approach?

You May Not Even Need Deodorant!

There are a lucky few out there who don’t even produce any armpit odor and don’t need to wear deodorant at all. Yet research shows that 75% of these people still wear it!

Wondering if you are one of the chosen ones? There are a couple of ways to find out. You could just stop wearing deodorant and see if your friends and family give you a wide berth. Or, you could check your earwax. Yes, really!

A few years ago, scientists discovered that a gene called ABCC11 determined whether people produced wet or dry earwax. Those who have a pale, flaky wax lack the chemical in their armpits that bacteria feed on to cause underarm odor. Those with dark, sticky wax aren’t so lucky!

They Stain Your Clothes

Whether its white marks on a black dress, or yellow stains on a white shirt, deodorant is one of the worst offenders for staining clothing.

The Wall Street Journal reports that deodorant makers, detergent manufacturers, stain-removal companies, doctors and textile professors all disagree on what exactly causes the underarm staining, although many believe it’s the aluminum in the antiperspirants – just another reason to give these harsh chemicals a miss.

They Are Expensive

Sure, you can pick up a deodorant stick for a few dollars but when you can go without, or make your own all-natural version for mere cents, why waste your money on the conventional varieties?

How To Smell Fresh Naturally

So you’ve seen the pitfalls (no pun intended) of store bought deodorizing sprays and sticks, and you’re concerned for your health. But you also don’t want to smell like onions or cheese on a daily basis…which is pretty understandable.

Fear not, there are natural ways to stay fresh and odor-free, without compromising your health. Firstly, always maintain good hygiene by washing regularly and thoroughly drying your skin to avoid bacterial or fungal growth. Secondly, consider what you eat – food impacts more than the smell of your breath. Finally, make (or buy) an all-natural deodorant, free from carcinogens, skin irritants and other chemicals. Keep reading to find out more!

Check Your Diet

Certain foods cause the body to sweat more so limit your intake of these if you’re struggling with excessive sweat or body odor. These include:

• Spicy foods
• Garlic and onion
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Processed, fatty and sugary foods

Help keep your body cool by staying hydrated with plenty of water, and water-filled foods like cucumber, celery, pears, watermelon etc.

Herbs like parsley, basil, mint, sage and rosemary, along with supplements like chlorophyll and wheat grass, are all said to be natural body deodorizers.

Make sure you’re getting enough of the B Vitamins, and Vitamin C, as these water soluble nutrients encourage toxins to be eliminated via the urine rather than the skin.

Finally, reduce or eliminate the meat from your diet. A 2006 study carried out in the Czech Republic, found that vegetarians have a ‘significantly more attractive, more pleasant, and less intense’ odor than their omnivorous counterparts.

Natural Homemade Deodorant Recipes

If you can’t go deodorant free then simply replace your chemical-laden brand with one of these all-natural deodorant recipes made with nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, essential oils, baking soda, witch hazel and shea butter.

Shea Butter & Essential Oil Deodorant Stick – While this recipe by Wellness Mama takes more time than going to the store, this deodorant will last longer and is a whole lot healthier! With coconut oil, shea butter, baking soda and essential oils, this deodorant stick is silky smooth and delightfully scented.

Homemade Non-Toxic Citrus Deodorant – Using coconut oil, baking soda, arrowroot powder and lemon essential oil, this zingy solid cream will give you a much needed morning boost when you apply it! You can mix it up in just two minutes and it keeps in a glass jar for several weeks.

Homemade Deodorant For Sensitive Skin – Made without baking soda, this gentle formula works well for those with sensitive ‘pits. Instead it uses cornstarch and coconut oil along with diatomaceous earth – a powder made from fossilized phytoplankton which is highly antimicrobial.

Two-Ingredient DIY Deodorant – This one couldn’t be simpler to make! Just blend a quarter cup of baking soda with 10 to 20 drops of essential oil of your choice, and pat it under your arms each morning after your shower. It’s a little bit messier than a stick deodorant so make sure to do it over the sink!

Witch Hazel & Aloe Vera Spray Deodorant – If solid or powder deodorants don’t do it for you, how about a spray? Containing organic witch hazel, Aloe Vera gel, baking soda and Clary Sage oil, it smells as wholesome and natural as it sounds.

Apple Cider Vinegar Deodorant Spray – Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is an incredibly useful product to have in the house – just check out all its benefits! It works wonders in this deodorant too, especially with the added power of witch hazel, distilled water and essential oils.

Pink Himalayan Salt Deodorant Spray – Pink Himalayan salt is another super product to have on hand. With antibacterial properties, it stops the growth of odor-causing bacteria. Blend it with soothing organic witch hazel, essential oils, baking soda and potent grapefruit seed extract and you’ll end up with a spray that’s more effective than any store-bought brand.

Magnesium and Essential Oil Spray Deodorant – with just two ingredients, and in spray form, this deodorant is a winner with many! Not only is it incredibly effective at preventing underarm odor, but you get a boost of magnesium – something many are deficient in! Add some essential oils for antibacterial power and feel-good smells.

Primal Pit Paste

This all natural pit paste allows you to sweat but neutralizes the odor. It means your body can emit the toxins building up but without the smell. It contains only natural ingredients, such as baking soda, arrowroot powder, coconut oil, shea butter and more. You need only a pea sized amount per application meaning each jar should last at least one month. You can buy it from this page on Amazon.

Deodorant Stones

If mixing up a batch of homemade deodorant is just ‘too crunchy’ for you, yet you’re still concerned about the ingredients in conventional deodorants, then consider investing in a deodorant stone.

Made from large, smooth crystals of potassium aluminum sulfate, you simply wet these sticks and apply them as you would any deodorant stick. Potassium aluminum differs from the aluminum in regular deodorant as potassium alum is thought to be a larger molecule which can’t be absorbed through the skin.

Get One Here: Crystal Body Deodorant Stick

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Purslane (Portulaca oleracea, P. sativa) is known as an annoying weed to many but it reality it is a plant loaded with nutritional value and is actually a “superweed.”  

Out of all of the weeds that may spring up in your yard, this one is certainly worth keeping around.

Strangely enough, this weed that seems to pop up all over the place such as in between sidewalk cracks and in fields and lawns is classified by the United States Department of Agriculture as a noxious weed, despite its alluring list of redeeming qualities.

According to reports, purslane, a member of the portulacaceae family, was one of Gandhi’s favorite foods and was also eaten by Thoreau while he lived at Walden Pond.

The benefits of this edible weed did not escape early Americans such as Martha Washington who had a recipe for pickled “pursland” in the Booke of Cookery and Booke of Sweetmeats.

This was a collection of hand-written recipes that she received as a wedding gift.

Distribution, Description and Varieties

Image Credit: Harry Rose @ Flickr

Purslane is an annual plant  that is native to Persia, Africa and India. It grows from late spring until early fall.  

It was brought to Europe in the 8th century by Arabs who used it as a salad herb. From Europe, the plant spread into the United States as well as Central and South America.

This low growing herb  prefers to grow in vacant areas where the soil is either slightly damp or dry.

The  tear-shaped leaves of this fleshy succulent resemble those of a jade plant and it has a slightly reddish colored stem.

Yellow flowers appear in the morning and often close by the heat of the day.

After flowering, the plant leaves behind small dark-colored seeds.

There are actually 3 different varieties of purslane, green, golden and large-leaved. All have a similar nutritional profile.

If you don’t already have this weed popping up in your yard or garden, you can generally find it at any farmer’s market.

Taste, Texture and Use

Many describe the taste of purslane as slightly sour but also pleasantly sweet.

Because it is a succulent, its leaves are very crisp making it a great addition to salads.

However, its use does not stop here, you can also enjoy purslane in stir fry dishes, soups, pickles, rice, potato dishes  and even casseroles.

Nutritional Profile

Purslane has a very impressive nutritional profile which includes many substances of  varied therapeutic value:

• rich source of potassium ( 494 mg/100g)
• rich source of magnesium ( 68mg/100g)
• contains calcium ( 65mg/100g)
• contains vitamins C, A and E
• contains alpha linolenic acid ( ALA) and gamma-linolenic acid ( LNA)
• contains alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid

Omega-3 fatty Acids

Purslane is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids found in any green plant and even higher than some types of fish.

Omega 3 fatty acids have been proven to decrease the thickness of the blood making them beneficial in the treatment of vascular conditions.  

In addition, a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids has been found to help with the following conditions:

Depression: Research has indicated that depression rates were low in areas where people consumed a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids.

Bipolar disease: There is a strong indication that omega 3 fatty acids help with bipolar disease.

ADHD: Omega 3’s have been found to help children with ADHD. Sneak some purslane into your children’s smoothies to help with cognitive function and focus.

Dry Eye Syndrome: Omega 3 fatty acids may help with dry eye syndrome. Therefore, a diet rich in omega 3’s such as those found in purslane can keep this condition at bay.

Autism: A diet rich in omega 3’s may help children with autism.

Blood Sugar: Research shows that diets rich in omega 3 fatty acids may decrease insulin resistance in people with diabetes. Just a handful of purslane day can help keep your blood sugar in check.

Baby Development: According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) benefit both eye and cognitive development in babies. According to the study

Reduced Risk of Pneumonia:  A higher intake of omega 3 has been found to reduce the risk of pneumonia.

Heart Health: Omega 3 helps to boost the strength of the cardiovascular system. These powerful fatty acids can reduce “bad” cholesterol and promote healthy cholesterol. In addition, consuming foods high in omega-3’s has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis which helps prevent the incidence of heart attack and stroke.

In addition, purslane contains potassium which reduces blood pressure as it acts as a vasodilator, relaxing blood vessels and deceasing strain on the heart muscle.

Antioxidants

You have probably heard the word antioxidants before. These are manmade and naturally occurring chemicals that help fight free radicals that cause cellular damage.

In fact, antioxidants can help protect you from serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and macular degeneration.

Purslane is rich in vitamins A, C and E which are all known for their antioxidant potency.

In addition, this edible weed also contains two betalain alkaloid pigments, beta-cyanins and beta-xanthins, which also act as antioxidants.

Antioxidants also help protect you from certain types of cancers, specifically lung and oral cancers.

The beta cyanins and beta xanthins have a anti-mutagenic impact on the body as they prevent free radicals from causing mutations to healthy cells.

This keeps cancer development at bay.

Vitamins and Minerals

The vitamins and minerals in purslane including iron, magnesium, potassium and manganese are all beneficial to health.

Improved Circulation: The iron and copper in purslane  help to stimulate the production of red blood cells. Because of these minerals, there is more oxygen being delivered to essential parts of the body, along with increased speed of healing cells and organs, improved metabolic efficiency and even increased hair growth.

Strong Bones: The wide variety of minerals in purslane work together to protect bones. The elements required to build strong hone tissue include calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese. These elements also help speed the healing process of bones which can help prevent osteoporosis.

Improved Vision: Both vitamin A and beta-carotene have been associated with eye health. Studies show that purslane can help reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts by eliminating free radicals that attack and damage the eyes and can cause commonly age-related diseases.

Skin Conditions: The vitamin A in purslane along with other nutrients can help reduce inflammation when applied topically to stings and bites. Also, it can boost the appearance, stimulate cellular healing, decrease the appearance of wrinkles, scars and blemishes.

Gastrointestinal Health

In traditional Chinese medicine, purslane is used for a number of gastrointestinal conditions including diarrhea, intestinal bleeding, dysentery and hemorrhoids.

Even today the herb known as Ma Chi Xian in Chinese medicine is used to treat numerous intestinal conditions.

It is thought to be effective mainly due to the numerous beneficial organic compounds it contains including dopamine, citric acid, alanine, glucose and malic acid.

Weight Loss Aid

If you are looking to drop a few pounds, look to the nutrient-dense purslane that is also loaded with fiber. If you consume a meal that contains purslane you will feel full and be less likely to overeat.

How to Grow Your Own Purslane

If you want your very own stash of purslane, it is remarkably easy to grow. Simply scatter seeds (available to buy from here) over a sunny or partly sunny area that has some good organic soil or compost.

Do not cover the seeds, they need light in order to germinate. Water lightly and wait for germination.

Be sure to harvest the purslane regularly or it will become invasive.

It is best to harvest before the flowers open.

You can also set cutting into the ground and water them. They generally root within a few days.

Be sure to collect the seeds at the end of the season and plant them next year.

If you are going to collect purslane from other places, be sure that it has not been sprayed with pesticides.

If you are buying purslane from your local farmer’s market or health store, look for leaves that are perky, not floppy. Don’t buy the herb if it has brown spots or appears dry.

It is always best to use fresh purslane within a day or so in order to reap all of its benefits.

How to Eat Purslane

Purslane is very easy to incorporate into numerous meals. You can substitute it for any other leafy green, use it as a garnish, add it to soups, stews or incorporate it into any type of salad.

Here are a few tasty recipes that contain purslane:

Purslane and Cucumber Soup

This is a delicious cold soup that is loaded with nutrients and a tasty treat any time of the day.

Ingredients

• 3 persian cucumbers chopped ( leave the skin on)
• 1 green tomato ( chopped)
• 1 medium green onion
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled
• ½ cup purslane leaves and tips
• ½ long piece of green chile
• ¾ cup Greek yogurt
• 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
• ½ teaspoon coconut crystals
• pinch of sea salt
• pinch of black pepper
• ½ stale pita bread, broken into small pieces
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Blend all ingredients and add more spices or a little water until you get the best consistency. Chill and serve in cups.

Purslane Green Smoothie

This super energy boosting smoothie is great for after a hard workout or as a pick-me-up any time of the day.

Ingredients

• 2 cups filtered water
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• handful of fresh dandelion green leaves
• 4 sprigs of fresh purslane weed
• small handful of fresh cilantro
• frozen banana
• handful of frozen mango
• handful of frozen pineapple
• 1 tablespoon of raw honey

Blend all of the ingredients in a blender and top with raw cacao nibs for delicious treat.

Purslane and Asparagus Soup

This soup is perfect all on its own or as a starter to any meal.

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh green asparagus
• sea salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ medium red onion, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 medium fennel bulb, diced
• 3 sprigs of thyme
• 2 cups water4 ounces purslane with stems removed

Cook the asparagus on the stove until slightly tender. Drain and submerge them in a bowl of ice water and drain again.

Add olive oil, onion, garlic and fennel along with a pinch of salt to a saucepan and cook for five minutes, Add thyme and  dried asparagus stems.

Cook for one minute. Add the water and bring liquid to a boil.

Cook for seven minutes, add purslane and cook for 2 more minutes.

Transfer to a blender and puree. Adjust seasoning as desired.

Serve warm topped with a bit of Greek yogurt, chives and asparagus tips.

Wild Greens Salad

If you love greens, you are going to love this salad. The flavors combine so well and it will bring your taste buds to life.

Ingredients

• 8 cups of mixed greens ( of course you will want to include a generous amount of purslane in this mix)
• raw nut halves
• sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• olive oil and vinegar dressing to taste
• edible flowers for garnish
• feta or goat cheese crumbles

Mix the greens together and drizzle with oil and vinegar.

Lemon and Purslane Carrot Juice

This immune-boosting juice is perfect if you are feeling a bit under the weather or just to keep your defenses up all winter long.

Ingredients:

• A handful of fresh purslane
• 4 medium organic carrots
• 1 medium organic apple
• ½ cucumber peeled
• 1 wedge of lemon
• 1 medium organic beet

Juice all ingredients and enjoy over ice.

Note: If you are pregnant, beware that eating purslane can cause the uterine muscles to contract.

The post Purslane: The Everyday Edible “Weed” With Extraordinary Health Benefits appeared first on Natural Living Ideas.

Nearly two thirds of American adults now own a smartphone – up from 58% in early 2014. In fact, 61% of you reading this page right now are probably doing so on a smartphone.

Their popularity is not surprising! Smartphones are incredible little devices – they allow us to stay connected, organized and entertained. They can track what we eat, our exercise goals and our sleep patterns. They log our shopping lists, our travel details and our spending habits.

These mini computers have eliminated our need for alarm clocks, address books, notepads and cameras.

But do their perks come with a downside?

It would seem they come with several disadvantages. Read on to find out exactly what those are.

A Serious Addiction

Despite what some may think, smartphone addiction is a very real phenomenon.

It has been found that female college students spend an average of ten hours a day on their cellphones, surfing the internet and sending 100+ messages. That’s more time than spent with friends.

Another survey found that three out of five US smartphone users can’t go more than 60 minutes without checking their phones.

So what makes us so eager to play with our phones instead of engaging in real life?

Experts say our brains get a hit of dopamine and serotonin – the chemicals linked to happiness – when our phones beep or ring. These are the same chemicals that give drug users their ‘high’!

We aren’t oblivious to our very real problem either – a recent opinion poll shows that 82% of the American public believe that smartphone addiction exists.

In fact, nomophobia (the fear of being without your mobile device) is now recognized as a serious issue – with rehab facilities available to help you deal with your problem!

Withdrawal Is Painful

Just like with other addictive substances, withdrawal can be long and painful and come with complications.

A 2011 study called ‘The World Unplugged’ surveyed almost 1,000 University students in 10 different countries.

The students were asked to avoid cellphones, laptops and social networking for 24 hours.

A ‘clear majority’ suffered significant mental and physical distress, panic, confusion and extreme isolation during the withdrawal period, with most students failing to go the full day without their fix.

Back Problems

Are you constantly hunched over your phone, engrossed in your Facebook feed? You could be putting your back under pressure if you are!

The British Chiropractic Association say that the number of young people with back problems has risen dramatically over the last number of years, thanks to smartphone use.

According to 2015 statistics, 45% of young people aged 16 to 24 now suffer from back pain as their spinal disks are put under pressure. That’s a 60% rise from 2014!

This pain isn’t just occasional either, with 25% of those young people suffering on a daily basis.

But it’s small wonder that texting can cause such pain…a 2014 study, published in Surgical Technology International, found that texting can add up to 50 pounds of pressure on a person’s spine, depending on the angle at which the person is texting.

That’s a similar weight to a seven year old child!

Nerve Damage

Smartphones don’t just affect your health on a day-to-day basis – they may also cause long term, incurable side effects.

Like occipital neuralgia – a neurological condition where the nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp become compressed or inflamed.

This condition causes symptoms similar to those you’d experience with a severe headache or migraine.

One journalist diagnosed with the condition described it as like being ‘hit over the head with a rod of steel’ sending ‘bolts of pain’ through his skull.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for occipital neuralgia – only treatments to manage the pain which include steroid and numbing injections, yoga, massage and laying off the smartphone usage!

Anxiety & Depression

Spending so much time staring at a screen can lead to anxiety and even depression as people expect constant updates and interaction from friends, and worry when these aren’t received.

For every minute you’re playing Candy Crush, you’re missing out on a minute of exercise, of cooking healthy meals, of walking the dog and of real-life human interaction – all of which are important for good mental health.

A study from Northwestern University revealed that the more time people spend on their phones, the more likely they are to be depressed.

The average daily use for a depressed person was 68 minutes, compared to just 17 minutes for someone who has better mental health.

Stress

Having a smartphone means we’re always ‘available’ – to take calls, text messages, instant messages, social media notifications and emails. The workday no longer finishes at 6pm as emails continue to push through late into the night.

But research from 2012 has found that the need to immediately read and respond to every one of these incoming alerts is causing rising stress levels.

The study, which looked at 100 university students, retail workers and public-sector employees, found that the stress gets so bad for some, that they actually begin to experience phantom vibrations, thinking their phone is buzzing when it isn’t!

Weight Management & Fitness Levels

Have you ever got lost in the virtual escape your smartphone provides, only to return to reality minutes – or even hours – later?

This is precisely why we’re spending less and less time exercising – once we’ve fit in our daily dose of phone use, there’s no time!

In one study, researchers surveyed over 300 college students about their cellphone use, leisure activities and physical activity.

49 of the students were then asked to use a treadmill test to evaluate their heart and lung fitness.

Unsurprisingly, those who spent up to 14 hours daily on their phones were less fit than participants who only averaged about 1.5 hours of use.

Disrupted Sleep

63% of smartphone users age 18 to 29 fall asleep with a cellphone, smartphone or tablet in their bed, says a 2013 survey.

Around 30% of users aged 30 to 64 do the same thing.

What’s really worrying is that, according to a study published in September 2015, the amount of caffeine in a double espresso has less of an effect on sleep schedule than bright light exposure at night!

While most of us wouldn’t bring a double espresso to bed, we happily bring our phones.

The light exposure can actually push back sleep time twice as long as coffee does, thanks to its ability to suppress melatonin, the hormone that helps with sleep timing.

When Harvard researchers looked at the effect of 6.5 hours of exposure to blue light, and to green light, they found that the blue light suppressed melatonin for twice as long as the green did.

The blue also shifted sleep schedules by three hours, compared to an hour and a half for the green light.

A Source of Bacteria

Disturbing research from the University of Arizona has discovered that the average phone has 10 times the amount of bacteria that is found on a toilet seat!

While you might clean your toilet regularly, it’s likely your phone is given a good wipe down far less often. And no matter how clean your toilet seat, you’re probably not going to let it touch your face!

Next time, be careful where you leave your phone, and wipe it regularly.

Attention Span

It turns out that most of us now have an attention span less than that of a goldfish.

Could our smartphone addiction be at fault?

That’s exactly what research from Microsoft claims. It’s not surprising really, especially when you consider that most of our news is now condensed into 140 characters or less.

On the upside, the researchers claim that cellphones have increased our ability to multitask.

But, others studies contest this, stating that simply talking or texting can be distracting and contributes to diminished performance when multitasking.

In fact, simply the presence of a cell phone is said to be distracting, especially when in social settings.

Social Effects

Instead of making us more connected, our smartphones could be making us more isolated.

Not only are we more distracted and less ‘present’ in social scenarios thanks to our cellphones, we’re also becoming less connected to our peers on a deeper level.

Researchers from the University of Essex found that people who discussed personally meaningful topics when a cellphone was nearby (even if they weren’t being used) reported lower relationship quality and less trust in their partner.

They also felt their partner was less empathic to their concerns.

Smartphone use is also likely to make us more selfish, and less likely to engage in ‘prosocial’ behavior, says University of Maryland research.

Prosocial behavior is defined as an action intended to benefit another person or society as a whole – like volunteering or simply helping out someone in need.

Text Claw

Text claw isn’t a medical term (yet) but its symptoms are very real. Sufferers experience cramped fingers, wrist pain and muscle pain thanks to continuous texting and scrolling on the touchscreen of a smartphone.

This occurs because of inflammation in the tendons. It can also exacerbate existing inflammation from tendinitis.

If it happens to you, take a break from the cellphone, ice the area regularly, try some wrist exercises and flavor your food with these pain-killing herbs and spices, many of which will work to reduce the inflammation.

Indirect Injuries

Aside from the injuries directly caused by your phone – like occipital neuralgia or carpal tunnel syndrome – a cellphone addiction can increase your risk of indirect injuries, like from a nasty fall or car crash!

While hand-held cellphone use while driving is banned in some states, hands-free isn’t.

Yet Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that drivers who are listening to someone talk on their phone have 37% reduced brain activity. They say that making devices hands-free or voice-activated is not sufficient to eliminate distractions while driving.

Even pedestrians are at increased risk of causing accidents.

A University of Washington study reports that texting pedestrians took 1.87 extra seconds to cross an average intersection and were four times more likely to ignore the lights or forget to look for traffic before crossing.

Scary stuff!

Eyesight

Direct exposure to blue light – like the one that comes from cellphone screens – can cause damage to the retina of the eye.

The American Macular Degeneration Foundation warns that retinal damage of this nature may lead to macular degeneration, which causes the loss of central vision (the ability to see what’s in front of you).

In the research however, the blue light was placed directly in front of the eye – which isn’t exactly how cellphones are used. However, long term effects of blue light exposure are not known.

One survey of 2,000 people found that 55% of respondents believe that eye discomfort is the main problem inflicted on them by their phones.

To save your eyes, limit the amount of time on your phone and follow the 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes take 20 seconds to focus on something 20 feet away. Plus you could invest in a blue light blocking phone screen cover. Check out these vision-saving foods too!

Hearing

Simply chatting to someone on the phone won’t damage your hearing, but if you use your smartphone and headphones for listening to music then you might have cause for concern.

According to the National Institute on Deafness, around 26 million Americans suffer from noise-induced hearing loss.

One source of such noise is from headphones, like the ones that come with your phone.

If we listen to music that is too loud, we can damage the tiny hairs in the inner ear, which transmit chemical signals through nerves to the brain.

What level is too loud?

The Dangerous Decibels public health campaign states that repeated exposure to noises above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss – approximately the noise level of heavy traffic.

The maximum volume of a smartphone is around 105 decibels – or that of a concert. Listening to music at this volume for more than four minutes would likely result in damage to hearing.

Even if you lower it to just 94 decibels, you can cause damage if you listen for over an hour.

Radiation

While it’s not clear if the radiation from cellphones and other connected devices causes health issues, a group of 200 biological and health scientists from around the world are trying to raise public awareness on this issue.

They are calling on the United Nations, World Health Organization and national governments to develop strict regulations concerning cellphones that create electromagnetic fields.

The World Health Organization already classes cellphones as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ and the organization will conduct a formal risk assessment of all studied health outcomes from radio-frequency field exposure by 2016.

Read Next: 15 Every Day Things That Are Increasing Your Cancer Risk

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