Ani's Raw Food Essentials - Ani Phyo [3]
Nontoxic Cleansers
TO AVOID nerve-damaging chemicals such as the butyl cellosolve and ammonia found in conventional cleaners, just make your own with ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
GLASS CLEANER
¼ cup vinegar
½ tablespoon eco liquid soap or detergent
2 cups water
Place all ingredients in a spray bottle, and use to clean glass.
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
½ cup vinegar
¼ cup baking soda
½ gallon water
Essential oils, for scent (optional)
Place all the ingredients in a bucket, mix, and use to clean most surfaces.
MOLD BUSTER AND ASTRINGENT
1 teaspoon tea tree oil
1 cup water
Mix the tea tree oil and water in a spray bottle. Shake to blend. Spritz on an item such as fabric and leave on; do not rinse. Line dry. I even use this to give my dog a quick bath when she gets into something dirty.
TO UNBLOCK SLOW DRAINS
1 gallon water
½ cup salt
Heat the water and salt to almost boiling and pour it down your drain. If you have a major blockage, you’ll need to snake your drain instead.
Or, try using baking soda and vinegar to unblock your drain.
½ cup baking soda
½ cup white vinegar
1 quart water
Pour the baking soda down the drain. Then pour the vinegar down the drain. It will fizz. Lastly, pour the water down the drain to flush.
I love my dress made from a Baltimore Orioles jersey.
In Korea, shoes are left at the door, which avoids tracking in residual pesticides. I use a HEPA filter vacuum to filter out dust, bacteria, pollen, and dog dander from my pooch, Kanga. My shower curtains are PVC-free to avoid toxins that can disrupt my hormones, and I have green plants that help clean and filter my indoor air. A NASA study found plants remove 96 percent of harmful carbon monoxide from a closed room.
Toxin-free living also means abandoning toxic thoughts. A positive outlook makes it easier to feel happier. Focus on what you want, and don’t waste energy worrying about what you don’t want.
ACTIVE LIFESTYLE
Our body was designed to run away from predators in the wild, and to gather our food. Today, we work all day at our desk in an office and buy our food at the market. So, it’s important to include cardio, stretching, and weight-bearing exercises, to build strong, lean muscles and a healthy body that’s less prone to injury and pain.
I’ve got to sweat every day to detox and clean myself from the inside out—even if it means going to a sauna on days when I’ve got less energy. Meditation is exercise for my brain muscle, and I do my best to meditate, even if only for five minutes, every morning upon rising and every evening before bed.
ECO BEAUTY AND FASHION
Eating more whole, fresh, organic foods increases overall health from the inside out to give us a glow of health. In Los Angeles, we have clothing recycling stores, where you can trade about three stylish fashion items for credit toward another item in the store. I love shopping at these fashion recycleries and find one-of-a-kind gems that create my fashion statement. Plus, it’s a cost-effective way to get new clothes. When buying new clothing, I do my best to choose organic fabrics that help me avoid chemicals on my skin.
Research has found toxic chemicals called parabens, used as preservatives in makeup, shampoos, deodorants, and nail polish, in cancer cells. Choosing poison-free beauty options will decrease your exposure to toxic chemicals that build up on your body over time. Our skin is our largest organ, and what we put on it is the same as if we are drinking or eating the substance. I make sure everything I put on my body is safe to eat, such as lemon juice to lighten, and coconut oil and jojoba oil to moisturize my hair and skin.
Take time out for our friends, family, and pooches.
HAPPINESS
When we feel happy, we are less stressed, and our overall sense of well-being is increased.