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Mary's Stellar Health Blog

Natural suncreens and chemical free travel essentials

4/5/2015

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My summer holidays are just round the corner! I am so grateful to get a holiday this year and can’t wait for that first dip in the sea!!

I get really excited about natural skincare products and love trying out new products to share with you all. Our skin is our largest organ. Anything you put on it gets absorbed into your body and has to be processed and eliminated by the liver.

Most cosmetics are full of chemicals, preservatives, synthetic perfumes and parabens. These chemicals are there to help bind ingredients together, maintain a longer shelf live and create aroma. But have you ever stopped to think what these ingredients could be doing to your body?

The jury is still out on the safety of parabens and the possible role they may play in breast cancer. So until we know for sure, I personally, would rather not to take a gamble.

The natural travel essentials I'm packing this summer holiday
This year my travel essentials include La Roche Posay sunscreen for the face and another for the body and Green People’s organic sunscreen. Both are paraben free.  

I chose La Roche Posay for the face as it is non-comedogenic, which is meant to prevent pores getting clogged and spots breaking out. I’ve been meaning to try Green People for aaages after I first discovered them at last year’s Allergy and Free From Show in London, they do a whole range of natural, organic cosmetics.

I’m also trying out yet another natural deodorant as so far I’ve not been totally convinced by the efficacy of many. Aluminium is an ingredient in your typical anti-perspirant deodorant to prevent you from sweating but unfortunately this is really not something you want in your body as it is a heavy metal. It is particularly toxic to the brain as it can cross the blood brain barrier and interferes with DNA.

Salt of the Earth natural deodorant is aluminium free and apparently works by leaving a thin layer of pure alum, a natural mineral salt on your skin, which prevents the growth of the bacteria that causes body odour. Let’s see how this one copes under Turkish temperatures!!

And last but not least, I never travel anywhere without my trusted probiotics. The good bacteria in these little capsules keeps your gut flora and digestion happy and healthy. Because let’s face it; there ain’t nothin’ sexy about traveller’s diarrhoea… ;)

I’ll let you know who gets my gold star of approval on my return!

Have you tried any of these products before? Or are there any others you would recommend? There are so many great natural alternatives on the market these days it's really hard to choose just one.

Please comment below or join the conversation over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
I'd love to hear about your own experiences with natural sunscreens and deodrants in particular. Which products do you like or dislike?

You can also check out an article I wrote last year about how to eat healthy while you travel
and check out my travel essentials of 2014 here

Are you plagued by prickly heat every summer? Find out how to prevent prickly heat

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Happy New Year

18/1/2015

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the Green Christmas market Berlin
Happy New Year lovely followers and friends. I'm sorry things have been so quiet online recently.

Unfortunately I was struck down by a really awful gastric virus and have been concentrating on making a full recovery. (Natural remedies for gastritis and IBS blog post coming very soon!)

I hope your holiday was incredible and your 2015 is off to an extraordinary start.

We spent some time in Berlin. One of the highlights had to be our visit to the Green Christmas Market. It was brimming with delicious and nutritious vegan and vegetarian food. There is so much vegan fayre in Berlin; it’s a vegan’s paradise!

The setting was pretty unique – think gluhwein round a brazier with a beach theme overlooking the river.  Just wish I’d taken more photos.


Now I’d love to hear your New Year’s Resolutions or health goals in the comments section. What do you want to create over these next 12 months? What's the big, future vision you’re committed to bringing to life? I’ll start!

I have bought a steam mop (yes, living on the edge, I know) so I can finally ditch all the harsh, toxic cleaning chemicals for good and create a clean, chemical-free living environment.

Do you already have a steam mop? I'd be really curious to know what you think.


For those of you that experiences gastritis, diarrhoea or IBS check back here very soon as I’ll be blogging about some great supplements that saw me through the past two weeks and really aided my recovery from gastric flu.

Cheers for now,

Mary xo


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How to avoid Prickly Heat rash this summer

15/8/2014

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Don’t let heat rash spoil your (responsible) sun holiday this year!

Prickly heat, heat rash or 'sweat rash' as it might be known - those itchy, sore little red spots that start to appear on wrists and the folds of forearms and creep up on you is a an allergic reaction to heat or sun exposure.

The 'prickles' are due to raised levels of histamine in the skin.

Natural antihistamine supplements include:
  • Quercetin
  • nettle leaf
  • vitamin C
  • flavonoid type antioxidants such as grape seed extract
Taken daily before and during your holiday may reduce the reaction.
  • Swap to a natural sun screen as they allow your skin to breathe as the organic ingredients work with your skin, rather than stifling it. Here are a few examples

Discover how to maintain your Stellar Health when travelling especially if you have food intolerances here>>

 


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My travel essentials

10/8/2014

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Don't let tummy troubles and sunburn get in the way of your fun this summer. Here are a few summer essentials I always have in my beach bag.
  • I pack a natural, mineral based sunscreen instead of the typical synthetic sun factor. You still get the same UVA and UVB protection but without the parabens and other chemical ingredients. Try Green People or Neal’s Yard available in factors 15-25.

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  • To avoid an upset stomach or bloating I recommend a good quality probiotic. Look for ones that contain bacteria in their billions such as 'For Travelling Abroad' from Optibac and take daily throughout your holiday.  

  • If you are suffering from more than just nausea, a probiotic containing a form of yeast called Saccharomyces Boulardii (AKA Sacch. B) is excellent at eliminating foreign micro-organisms in the body. There are lots of scientific research studies to support its ability to bind to and flush out pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella, minimising the risk of diarrhoea. 
  • Coconut water is full of natural electrolytes and can replace electrolytes lost during diarrhoea, preventing dehydration. Depending on where you are travelling, you might be lucky enough to drink it fresh from a coconut, with a straw :)

  • Ginger is a great remedy for travel sickness and nausea. Make fresh ginger tea or grate some into your salad.

  • High strength garlic supplements are naturally anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial and may reduce the risk of upset stomach while travelling.

  • For hand sanitizers swap your alcohol drops and chemical laden baby wipes for Water Wipes. Water Wipes are free from alcohol, parabens, lanolin, perfumes and phthalates.  Water Wipes contain grapefruit seed extract, a powerful natural antibacterial that is gentle on all skin types. Use in place of baby wipes, face wipes and hand sanitizer when out and about, or on the road, they are fab! Available from Boots, Ocado and Amazon.

  • Find out how you can maintain your healthy diet while on the road this summer even if you have food intolerances here>>
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  • Home
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