After speaking with a friend of mine who is studying holistic nutrition, she made me aware of the dangers involved in using some of the everyday products we take for granted. For example, there are harmful chemicals found in many brand name deodorants that I had never thought twice about purchasing in the past. Apparently these chemicals are absorbed by the body and can cause problems including cancer.
I decided to be more particular about what I bought from that point on. I was able to find a deodorant comprised of 70% organic ingredients. It cost about $5 more than the regular deodorants I had purchased in the past. Unfortunately, it didn’t really work very well. I still didn’t want to go back to buying the harmful products so I decided to try out Norwex’s Crystal Deodorant. For those of you who don’t know about Norwex, it’s a company with the mission of providing cleaning and hygiene products that don’t contain harmful chemicals.
The Crystal Deodorant cost me $12.99 and since I consider myself to be fairly frugal, it seemed like an awful lot of money to be forking over for deodorant. As it turns out, the deodorant seems to work really well, thankfully, and if it lasts at least a year then I will have more than made up for the money I would have spent on regular deodorant. In fact, I think it might even last longer than that.
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Recently my husband and I have been watching The Dr. Oz Show on T.V. The show is great for those interested in learning tips on developing healthy habits, but watching the show can also save you money, especially for those who have to pay to visit a doctor. Poor health leads to hefty medical expenses that can often be avoided by following Dr. Oz’s advice on getting exercise, eating properly, and being able to recognize symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, and other major diseases.
Dr. Oz, a heart surgeon, and the host of the show, offers great tips on what home remedies are safe and effective. These remedies are often much cheaper than buying medications at the pharmacy. Many of the remedies can be found on the doctoroz.com website.
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Here are some easy ways to burn calories with minimal effort and with little or no cost.
1. Eat hot peppers to speed up your metabolism. Studies show that spicy foods can increase your metabolism temporarily, increasing the rate at which you burn calories.
2. Take the stairs rather than using elevators. Climbing the stairs 4 minutes each day can lead to a 4 lb. (1.8kg) weight loss in a year.
3. Drink ice water. Drinking cold water helps you to burn calories because your body has to work harder to warm the water and absorb it. Also, keeping yourself hydrated throughout the day is important. If you get dehydrated your metabolism will slow down in an attempt to find moisture within your body.
4. Stand instead of sit when appropriate. Standing burns more calories than sitting. If you are waiting for an appointment, or at an airport, get into the habit of standing for a while rather than just sitting during your wait.
5. Chew sugarless gum. Burn calories and freshen your breath at the same time.
6. When you go to work, purposely park your car as far away from the entrance as possible, so you can get some fresh air and exercise on your way in and out the door.
7. Get into the habit of frequently moving your legs and feet to burn extra calories. Squeezing a rubber ball periodically throughout the day also helps.
8. Get rid of your remote control. If you are watching TV, every time you want to change the channel, make yourself get up and change it.
9. Keep your home’s temperature cool. Your body will burn more calories keeping your body warm.
Want to save on dentist bills by keeping your teeth healthy? Use an electric toothbrush! If you hate going to the dentist as much as I do, you will consider it. I recently started to use one and I can really feel the difference. After I brush, my teeth feel extremely clean. It took me a while to be convinced. After a recent visit to the dentist and a “small procedure”, I was willing to try anything! My husband has been using one for over a year now and he bought me one but I stubbornly continued to use the old-fashioned kind, until now!
Electric toothbrushes cost from $20 to $30 and the replaceable tops can add up. I recommend buying the toothbrush tops bulk at Costco or at another wholesale store because they are a lot cheaper than if you buy them in small quantities at drug stores. All in all, I consider electric toothbrushes to be a small investment in promoting good health that can save you tons of money in the long run.
Although there is some controversy over whether or not electric toothbrushes really do work better than manual ones, a review of 21 studies over the past 37 years found less dental plaque and gum disease in people who used electric toothbrushes.
I use Oral-B Vitality
and it has a built in timer that lets me know when I’ve brushed for 2 minutes. I prefer the small circular brush heads over the larger, more bulky ones. I find they work better for me. Don’t be stubborn like me and refuse to try one out. Although they may seem expensive at first, you will likely end up spending less on dentist bills so the investment is well worth it.
Believe it or not, olive oil makes a great beauty product! It is natural and inexpensive if you buy the regular kind. No need to buy the more expensive extra virgin olive oil for anything except cooking. Check out these 5 creative uses for olive oil that you might not have expected. Who would have thought that oil could make you more beautiful! 
1. Get rid of acne. Make a paste by mixing together salt and olive oil. Rub it on your face, let it sit for about 3 minutes, and then rinse it off with warm water. Do this for about a week and then do it less frequently (2 to 3 times a week). The salt exfoliates your skin and the olive oil moisturizes it.
2. Use olive oil as a massage oil.
3. Use it as a hair conditioner. Shampoo your hair first, and then apply the olive oil to your hair. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. Another option is to heat up some olive oil, apply it to your hair, wear a shower cap or wrap a plastic bag over your hair for about 30 to 40 minutes and then wash your hair with shampoo. Olive oil will moisturize your hair and make it look shiny.
4. Soften your cuticles before a manicure by dipping your fingernails in olive oil. Rub the oil into your nails.
5. Use olive oil in place of shaving cream. Women can use it to shave their legs. Men can use it on their faces. It is a great alternative for anyone with allergies or for people with dry skin.
If you are trying to find ways to get exercise without spending money on a 
gym pass or exercise equipment, consider going for a walk. Walking is free and fun! If you don’t live in an overly pleasant neighborhood, consider driving to a nearby park or even a shopping mall to get your exercise. Don’t limit yourself to just one location for your walks or you will get bored and be less motivated. Find a friend to walk with so you can have company along the way and keep each other accountable. Increase your pace at the beginning of your walk rather than at the end to maximize the health benefits. Doing this will cause your heart rate to increase and remain high and you will get the best work out. Walking not only provides physical benefits, it also does wonders for me mentally- it works almost like a therapy. Whenever I need to think something over or if I am upset, I find a walk really helps. Sometimes it’s nice to bring along an mp3 player and listen to music. Do whatever suits you, the main thing is that you keep your body healthy, and walking is a great way to do it without spending a penny.
If you enjoy pampering yourself with a facial mask once in a while, rather than buying expensive concoctions that are made up of chemicals, here are some suggestions of ways to make your own masks with common household products.
1. Mix clay cat litter, yes, cat littler, with warm water to make a thick paste. Rub it onto your face and let it set for 20 minutes. The clay cleans out your pores and detoxifies your skin.
2. Mash up a ripe banana into a paste and then apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off with cold water. Believe it or not, bananas moisturize your skin and make it soft.
3. If you don’t like the idea of smearing banana all over your face, you can try honey instead. Honey also moisturizes your skin and cleans your pores.
4. Mashing egg whites together into a frothy mixture and then gently applying them to your face and neck also works well.
So, next time you want to pamper yourself, try one of these natural alternatives at home and see how it works for you. Beauty doesn’t have to cost a fortune!
After speaking with a friend of mine who is studying holistic nutrition, she made me aware of the dangers involved in using some of the everyday products we take for granted. For example, there are harmful chemicals found in many brand name deodorants that I had never thought twice about purchasing in the past. Apparently these chemicals are absorbed by the body and can cause problems including cancer.
