Why Matcha Green Tea Is Amazing! - Matcha Organics Review

If you're anything like me you are always looking to add nutrients and minerals to your daily intake. Sometimes it seems like there isn't enough time (or calories!) in a day to get it all in. This is why I love matcha, it comes in powder form and you can add it to just about anything! It is abundant in antioxidants, minerals and nutrients to keep you healthy and happy. In fact, one cup of matcha is the nutritional equivalent of 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea!

Matcha is a specially grown and powdered green tea. It is the center of both Chinese and Japanese traditional tea ceremonies. Most recently, it has been used to dye and flavour foods and treats (We've all heard of the infamous Matcha Green Tea KitKat bars!). There are two different grades of matcha -ceremonial and culinary, each use different blends and preparations (today I'm testing culinary). Ceremincial matcha is typically mixed with hot water while culinary can be used in a variety of ways such as baking and smoothies.

Matcha is produced from shade grown tea leaves, this is important because it boosts the production of chlorophyll and in return amino acids. Chlorophyll is an antioxidant and assists in keeping our blood healthy, kills germs and acts as a wound healer. Once picked the leaves are then dried, steamed and stone ground to produce the powdered matcha that we know and love today. Because it is powdered and you use the entire leaf your body is able to use 100% of the nutrients from the tea. It is important to ensure that the matcha you purchase has not oxidized, as it degrades the product - always look for vacuum sealed tins/bags to ensure optimum freshness and maximum antioxidants.

As mentioned above, matcha hosts a powerhouse of antioxidants (over 1300!), minerals and nutrients. The health benefits of matcha include:
- Energy Booster (Replace your morning coffee!)
- Mental clarity
- Boosts metabolism and burns calories
- Detoxifies
- Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar
- Prevents disease

I was recently given the opportunity to try Matcha Organics Culinary Grade Matcha and have been loving adding it to my daily smoothie! The best thing about Matcha Organics is that it is quality made. This company truly cares about it's product and their customers, which is of great importance to me. Their matcha is 100% organic and USDA approved. As previously mentioned, it is culinary grade which means is perfect for mixing in your morning smoothie or adding to your cupcakes! This product also comes with a 100 recipe e-book that is sure to give you plenty of ideas on how to get your matcha in!

Have you ever tried matcha?! Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

* Matcha Organics kindly provided me with a bag of their Culinary Matcha Green Tea in exchange for an honest review. All purchases receive their free Top 100 Matcha Recipes E-Book! As always, all opinions and experiences are my own! This post is not sponsored. Some of the links above are affiliate links. Thank you so much for your support!

Five Easy Ways To Green Up Your Cleaning Routine!

This was one of the first things I fully switched over on my path to living a more natural life. You use these products daily, they end up covering your entire house, you may even have children or pets that crawl or play on the floor. Typical cleaners contain many harmful ingredients and chemicals that are just unnecessary! Did you know that manufacturers are not required (by law) to list the ingredients? That's pretty scary! By switching over to more natural products not only will you save money but you will be playing a part in keeping our water clean and forests beautiful.

1. Make your own cleaners.

There are hundreds of different recipes out there but honestly these are the ones that I find myself making over and over again!:

Dishes:
castille soap - That's it!

Glass Cleaner:
1 part vinegar
2 parts water
* Mix and use a lint free cloth for streak free windows, mirrors and stainless.

All-Purpose Cleaner
1 part vinegar
2 parts water
1 tsp liquid castille soap
1 tsp baking soda
20 drops of your favourite essential oil (I like to mix it up! Some of my favourites are orange, lemon and lavender)
* I also use this for carpet stains! Be sure to test a small area first.

Daily Shower and Toilet Bowl Cleaner
1 part vinegar
1 part water
20 drops tea tree essential oil

Refresh Carpets/Rugs
1 cup Baking Soda (Depending on size)
10 drops of your favourite essential oil
Mix well, sprinkle all over rug or carpet, leave for at least 30 minutes and vacuum.

Heavy Duty Cleaner
 For heavy duty cleaning such as the oven (I do not like using the self-clean function!) I simply sprinkle baking soda all over and then spray it with my all-purpose cleaner then let it sit for about 30 minutes. Wipe away with vinegar you'll be amazed at how well it works!

2. Purchase natural detergents/cleaners.

In addition to making your own cleaners there are also many great brands these days! Some of the ones I recommend and use are:

- Seventh Generation
- Method
- The Honest Company
- Mrs. Meyers

3. Replace Paper Towel with reusable cloths or rags.

You can simply use old shirts and towels cut into squares or purchase micro fiber cloths, they work way better than your old school paper towel! If you do use paper towel, please find one that is made from recycled materials (Both Seventh Generation and Cascades offer options.)!

4. Use Steam!

This is my favourite way to deep clean my floor! I spot clean using my all purpose cleaner throughout the week and then twice a week I steam them using my Shark Floor Steamer. It eliminates up to 99.99% of germs and bacteria without the use of ANY chemicals! If you've never used one I highly suggest adding one to your wish list! Be sure to look for one that comes with reusable microfiber pads!

5. Clean often!

If you find that you are needing heavy duty, foaming or chemical action it could be because you need to clean more often. By cleaning daily you cut down on tough grime, allergens and the time it takes! I clean one or two rooms daily in addition to a few small tasks which has worked really well! I find that my home is always clean with this routine. If you want an in depth post on my cleaning routine let me know!

How do you keep your home clean? What are some of your favourite cleaners or recipes? Leave them in the comments below!

* I purchased all the items above with my own money, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

The Effects of Chlorine and How To Protect Yourself While Swimming

Hello!

Over the past few months I've added swimming twice a week to my cardio routine as the apartment I moved to has an indoor pool! I had forgotten how much I absolutely love being in the water but unfortunately not the effect it has on my hair and skin! While I will always prefer swimming outdoors I live in Canada and for most months out of the year that just isn't possible!

Chlorine is often added to water to reduce the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses. While this is great for keeping a pool clean it can start to eat away at the natural oils covering and protecting our skin and hair thus making them susceptible to dryness and damage. The chlorine can eventually break the bonds of our hair making it brittle and even react with the pigments in our hair, essentially bleaching it down to the "natural" colour of keratin itself. In addition it can cause irritation and redness to our eyes.

Now this is no reason to give up on swimming! In my opinion swimming is one of the best forms of cardio there is, giving you a full body workout without strain on the joints and burning mega calories!

Here are 5 simple ways I protect myself while swimming!

1. Rinse off  with a cool shower before entering the pool - We want to remove any sweat, deodorant, soap etc... that is on our skin as the chlorine can react with the proteins found in these organic compounds and create gases that can cause a rash, this will also help to keep the pool clean meaning less chemicals used in the first place. Another reason is that our skin and hair will act like a sponge and absorb this "clean" water and saturate it before it has the chance to absorb the chlorinated pool water. Remember that cold water closes hair cuticles and hot water opens them so keep your shower cool!

2. Put coconut oil on your hair and skin - This will act as a barrier to keep the natural oils protecting our skin and hair from being eaten away by the chlorine thus keeping our skin hydrated and hair strong.

3. Wear swimming goggles - If I'm swimming laps I have these bad boys on to protect my eyes, it saves me from having red, itchy eyes and from rubbing them non-stop in the pool!

4. Wear a swimming cap - Again, if I'm swimming laps not only does this improve my time ;) but it makes a huge difference in the damage done to my hair. While water does still seep into my cap it is not nearly as saturated and still protected by my shower and coconut oil. With these three things I have successfully kept my hair pink and healthy!

5. Have a shower after your swim - This is a no brainer! Rinse away all the chlorine before it has a chance to (further) soak into your skin and hair.

Is there anything else you do to keep your hair and skin looking and feeling nice while swimming regularly? If so, let me know in the comments below!

Peace and Happiness,

Jules

Five Easy Ways to be Green at Home!

Hey Everyone!

I am constantly looking for new and better ways to green up my house. It is important to me to try and reduce my carbon footprint and to do my part to try and "save the earth"! The best thing about being "green" is that it usually saves you money! That's a win, win for me! :)

Here are my five favourite, tried and true ways.

1. Compost! I have a little compost container that I keep under the kitchen sink, it has a carbon filter so it doesn't smell at all but you could use anything from a paper bag, cardboard box or bowl. I empty mine into my compost pile outside after supper every day.

2. Switch to LED light bulbs! These things are absolutely amazing! With regular use they will last 25 years and will you save you money each month on electricity. They now have multiple shapes, sizes and colours to choose from.

3. Recycle! In my laundry room I have 3 separate recycle bins: Bottles & Cans, Paper & Cardboard, Plastic. I live in a small town and don't have curbside pickup (yet!) but I take it to my local recycling center about once a month. Between this and composting you will see a HUGE reduction in your garbage!

4. Use water saving water faucets! When renovating be sure to purchase low flow faucets and shower heads, I promise you won't notice the difference! Fortunately most companies offer a water saving fixture nowadays! There is also the option of purchasing aerators to use with your current faucets and shower heads!

5. Caulk and Weatherstrip any drafty doors or windows! Not only does this save you money but it is good for the environment when using less oil, gas or energy to cool and heat your home. If you aren't sure where the leaks are in your home take a piece of incense and around to each door and window. If you notice the smoke blows sideways then you have an air leak!

How have you greened up your house? Be sure and share below!