Holistic Judith
Member Since: June 28, 2020Reviews
Sahale Snacks Pomegranate Vanilla Cashews Glazed Mix
Product: Sahale Snacks Pomegranate Vanilla Cashews Glazed Mix The Sahale Snacks Pomegranate Vanilla Cashews Glazed Mix is a lovely combination of flavours, they work together without any one flavour being dominant. There is a perfect balance of... +
Product: Sahale Snacks Pomegranate Vanilla Cashews Glazed Mix
The Sahale Snacks Pomegranate Vanilla Cashews Glazed Mix is a lovely combination of flavours, they work together without any one flavour being dominant. There is a perfect balance of sweet and spice, hitting all the right cravings I tend to have. I like these as an afternoon pick-me-up snack to keep me going. Truthfully, it is hard not to eat the whole bag in one sitting. I think they would be good on a salad or in yogurt, too.
I like that there is no junk in this product - NO artificial flavours or preservatives and it is non-GMO. Big points from me for that.
The only downside is that these are a bit of a luxury item in terms of cost, but the ingredients and overall taste do offer a high-quality product and I am okay paying a bit more for that.
I am excited to try one of the other flavourful nut mixes. I would easily recommend this product to others.
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Moringa by Greeniche
Product: Greeniche Organic Moringa Powder I like smoothies but I just wasn’t feeling it this morning. I wanted something quick and easy. Life is complicated enough right now. My smoothie didn’t need to be. Into my Vitamix blender went: · 2... +
Product: Greeniche Organic Moringa Powder
I like smoothies but I just wasn’t feeling it this morning. I wanted something quick and easy. Life is complicated enough right now. My smoothie didn’t need to be. Into my Vitamix blender went:
· 2 peeled oranges
· 1 thick slice of fresh ginger
· 1 scoop of Moringa Greeniche Moringa Powder
· Filtered water to top it up, and I added couple of ice cubes to my glass
(Okay, so I know a wine glass is not the standard smoothie drink container but I am a classy broad.)
Here is also why I didn’t need to add a ton of extras to my smoothie: moringa is loaded in natural goodness all by itself - protein, fibre, iron, Vitamin A, calcium, and a stellar amount of antioxidants and complete amino-acids. What does all of this mean? It means that it offers these benefits:
· Energy and immune system boost
· Increase of vitality, focus, clarity, and stamina
· Anti-aging nutrients and minerals, fights inflammation
· Help to maintain healthy blood sugar and blood pressure
· Aid in mobility, flexibility and joint health
· Healthy skin and hair
· Overall high-quality nutrition
This is not some new health food fad. Moringa powder, made from the leaves of the moringa tree, has scientifically backed health benefits. It had been used for thousands of years in traditional remedies; almost all parts of the tree can be eaten or have herbal applications. The powder is made from the whole leaf. It is native to India and Nepal, but also grown in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. It has many other names that it is known by but none as true as this one: "tree of life".
It does have a mild earthy taste, but it is not off-putting at all. I recommend incorporating this into your day, however you choose. It doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated.
Wine glass optional. But life is short, so why not? Cheers!
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Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Peppermint Hand Soap
Product: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Soap (Peppermint) I have a confession to make. I was one of those kids that used to get her mouth washed out with soap so trust me when I say I know my soap inside-out. Mrs. Meyer’s soap and her other... +
Product: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Soap (Peppermint)
I have a confession to make. I was one of those kids that used to get her mouth washed out with soap so trust me when I say I know my soap inside-out. Mrs. Meyer’s soap and her other cleaning products have been a staple in my home for a long time but this was the first time I had used this invigorating peppermint hand soap.
For starters, the smell almost makes me want my mouth washed out again. (Okay, not really, but I think the cheeky kid still in me appreciates the inviting scent.) The cool peppermint is graced with just a touch of vanilla making it a refreshing and pleasing scent that lingers long enough to also offer an element of aromatherapy.
I like my soap to have big foaming action. The suds produced were satisfactory but not high volume. One special ingredient in this soap is olive oil. On one hand (pun intended), it keeps hard-working hands from drying out, but on the other hand, it does reduce the amount of suds possible. The oil can also leave one wondering if all the soap has truly washed off. Having said that, I do like the after-feel of softness and the moisturizing effect that it offers, especially in the winter months of chronic flu-busting hand-washing.
Along with olive oil, the soap includes soothing aloe vera and essential oils that are skin-friendly. Most importantly, the ingredients fall low on the scale of ecotoxicology and endocrine disruption as this product contains no parabens, phthalates, or artificial colours, and is 98% naturally derived. This formula is also cruelty-free and not tested on animals - yay!
I do like this soap a lot. The only bummer with this particular scent is that it is a limited edition one but, in my experience, there are no unpleasant scents in the Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap line; the high quality is consistent no matter which one you choose.
(Psst: If you can’t find peppermint, try my other favourite, lemon verbena.)
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my magic mud oral rinse
Product: My Magic Mud Activated Charcoal Oral Rinse (Cinnamon) So, I just caught my husband taking a swig straight from this bottle of oral rinse. I was horrified since I was also using the product. Like, get your morning breath and mouth bacteria... +
Product: My Magic Mud Activated Charcoal Oral Rinse (Cinnamon)
So, I just caught my husband taking a swig straight from this bottle of oral rinse. I was horrified since I was also using the product. Like, get your morning breath and mouth bacteria off of there! He informed me that it literally said on the bottle to “take a swig from our 420 Flask”. I took the bottle because I had to read it for myself. Sure enough, users are being advised to ‘drink’ straight from the bottle. No! Just NO. I cannot say that it is the wisest move for families to be sharing repeated nips from the same bottle. Ugh.
I have been a long-time user of My Magic Mud charcoal tooth powder so I was excited to try their cinnamon oral rinse. For starters, it smells like Christmas. It almost makes me want to pour a glass, heat it up and sip away. But I won’t. As you can imagine, then, the taste is delightful. It is heavy on the cinnamon but without a burning sensation. It rinses well and without mouth-residue, though spitting it out looks rather brown. It lacks the mild foaming action that some other brands have, which is a good thing. I confess that one time I didn’t rinse it down my sink fully when I spit and my husband later asked what all the ‘crap’ in the sink was. This will leave rusty coloured sink scum if you don’t properly get it all down the drain. Oops.
I use the tooth powder already, so I can’t say that I have seen a huge additional difference in tooth whitening, but to be clear, this product makes no claim to that end though it says it is for people who want a ‘gorgeous smile’. It does state that it offers ‘awesome breath’ and ‘optimal oral hygiene’ but the latter claim is rather vague. I will say my breath does feel and smell fresher and even moistened with each use.
I do like that this is a vegan and clean product. It contains NO: GMO, additives, fluoride, chemicals, gluten, sodium lauryl sulfate, glycerin, triclosan, nor any foaming agents. Even the essential oils used are sourced from global growers that have cultivated for generations.
Here’s another thing, though: I was given this product to try for free. I do like it for basic breath freshening. I searched on the My Magic Mud website for ordering info and this product is not listed. The only other oral rinse product they have is currently out of stock. I did find the cinnamon version on Amazon and Walmart but it was ridiculously expensive ($25-$35).
My honest opinion is: Meh. I could take it or leave it. I wouldn’t spend the extra effort or expense to make it part of my daily routine. (I DO, however, recommend their tooth powders.)
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Blue Light Blockers
Product: Blue Light Blocking Glasses Many years ago, I had corrective eye surgery.Though it has been almost 30 years now and I am sure the surgery has advanced, there were a few long-lasting side effects such as my eyes becoming tired quite easily... +
Product: Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Many years ago, I had corrective eye surgery.Though it has been almost 30 years now and I am sure the surgery has advanced, there were a few long-lasting side effects such as my eyes becoming tired quite easily and light sensitivity. Life is different now with long hours of screen time being the norm. (Yeah, the internet wasn’t even a thing in those days!)
Lately, I have been logging a ton of screen time and I am not just talking Netflix. I also confess that I have a very bad habit of lying in bed, checking my phone and then getting lost down the internet rabbit hole. I know better, but it happens. This is horrible, not just for eye health, but for quality sleep because screens radiate blue light.
Think about light. I know I am more productive when the sun is shining, even if I am working inside. It makes sense. Light impacts us in so many ways. Bright sun makes us happy, releasing serotonin. It also releases cortisol, which we sometimes associate with negative stress, but it also serves to tell our bodies to wake-up and get going. Then there is melatonin, a sleep hormone we need at night; it is the only hormone that requires a lack of light to start production. We need blue light, too; it helps keep us alert and boosts cognitive function, memory and our mood. It also regulates our circadian rhythm, which is our wake-sleep cycle. This means it is a good light to be exposed to during waking hours, but it can disrupt our sleep patterns at night. Our bodies think it’s daytime when we are streaming blue light into our retinas, so nighttime screen use means we are not producing melatonin needed to ready a quality sleep.
Ideally, our digital devices should be shut down a few hours before bedtime. (Gasp!) At the very least we do need to give our eyes a break. Literally just looking off into the distance and away from our screens for 30 seconds at regular intervals will help reduce eye strain. Blue light blockers for evening computer use can also help not just reduce tension in our eyes but they can assist our sleep rhythm as well.
I purchased blue light blocking glasses to support my eyes and sleep; I also have worn them when driving on very bright days as I am very light sensitive. They are non-polarized, meaning they reduce overall light intensity. (They do not address glares or hazes. That is a job for polarized glasses.) The frame and lenses are composite so they are super light in weight and to wear. My one annoyance with them is that they are a magnet for smudges and I am constantly cleaning them. I also am fairly petite and they fit snuggly on my face so I am not sure if they may need adjusting for some others to wear comfortably.
I do recommend these for naughty people like myself who are screen-users in the evening to reduce the disruptive impact on sleep and eye health. Others have said that they have helped reduce headaches and even mitigated lingering effects from concussions.
I purchased mine through Amazon. They have many frame colours to choose from. They are not prescription specs, so they are easy to purchase.
So, shine on! (Just not at night.)
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Jumping Bean Coffee
Product: Jumping Bean Coffee (K-Cups) I stumbled on this product while perusing coffee pods and it has been a repeat purchase ever since. Honestly, I liked the packaging so I bought it. Who doesn't love an East Coast scene? And, it clued me in to... +
Product: Jumping Bean Coffee (K-Cups)
I stumbled on this product while perusing coffee pods and it has been a repeat purchase ever since. Honestly, I liked the packaging so I bought it. Who doesn't love an East Coast scene? And, it clued me in to the fact that I would be supporting a Canadian brand, which I like to do when I can.
I have tried two blends. East Coast is a medium roast that is very aromatic and rich. I tend to like a light roast, but I drink this one regularly as well. The Light House coffee is smooth and light, a secret signature blend. There is also Deep Water, a dark roast, but I have not tried that one. They are available in both pods and beans. I am not a huge coffee consumer but I do know quality when I taste it, and these are both top-shelf worthy.
Here is the best thing: all the single serve pods are 100% compostable. You can literally put the whole pod, including the ring, into the garbage or composter. They use a special eco-friendly roasting process that eliminates 85% of waste and saves 1 pound of carbon per pound of beans. Jumping Bean Coffee is also certified Fair Trade and certified Organic. Awesome, right?
Not only is the Jumping Bean coffee delicious, but it is also guilt-free and is keeping money and jobs in Canada. Now that's how you start a morning!
Sip, Sip Hooray!
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Smart Swab
Product: Smart Swab Let’s talk earwax. Earwax is secreted by glands inside our ear canal to help repel water, guard against damage and infection, and rid the ear of dirt. It is kind of like a built-in antibiotic system. The wax collects debris... +
Product: Smart Swab
Let’s talk earwax. Earwax is secreted by glands inside our ear canal to help repel water, guard against damage and infection, and rid the ear of dirt. It is kind of like a built-in antibiotic system. The wax collects debris and ultimately dries up and drops out of the ear and/or can be removed from just inside the ear at the opening. Under normal circumstances, this is a self-regulating process. We do need our earwax. Fun fact: Did you know that jaw movements help move wax out of the ear? Think about how we can chew gum to stop our ears from popping – the movements keep air flowing and this helps to dry and push the wax along.
Manual cleaning using cotton swabs is discouraged by medical professionals since it’s mostly unnecessary and can even lead to damage because we risk pushing the earwax further inside the ear canal where it forms a blockage, even harming the ear drum with our prodding. There is the old adage: don’t put anything larger than your elbow in your ear. I suspect this is why this product has NO endorsement from any hearing specialist or ENT doctor. Obviously, products don’t require such backing but it helps to know that it has been given the once-over by the experts. This one has not met those standards.
I did want to try this product as I am confessing that I occasionally ‘pat’ around just inside my ear with cotton swabs or a soft cloth to dry them out after immersion in water, sometimes also removing a bit of dry wax. To date, I have not rammed myself in the ear drum because I proceed cautiously and slowly when doing so but a product designed with ear cleaning in mind seemed like a good alternative. I also pride myself on my hearing. My husband says I could hear a mouse fart at a Metallica concert so I don't mess around with this superpower of mine.
With Smart Swab, it is important to follow the instructions carefully. No tip can be reused – not even for the opposite ear, and the tip must be turned in opposite directions depending on which ear is being cleaned, making sure to rotate according to the arrows on the handle. Here’s the thing: my experience was less than stellar. For starters, it requires thinking and time. I know that sounds lazy and dumb, but it is far more work than using a cloth or a cotton swab. And though the tips are to be ‘one size fits all’, they aren’t. Ear drums are different shapes and sizes. I can’t imagine using this on adults and children and saying the distance the tip goes into the ear canal is the same for both. Frankly, it felt like it went deeper into my ear that I ever do with a cotton swab, and by comparison, the flexible, rubber tip is about twice as long as the cotton portion of a Q-tip. After use on one ear, it immediately changed my hearing to a dull, plugged sound. Not good. I changed the tip and then carefully tried my other ear only to have the tip fall right off the handle when removing it from my ear. Well, that freaked me out. What if it became unattached while in my ear? And that was the end of my trial with Smart Swab. I will not use this product.
For me, there is too much risk and expense to warrant this as a needed item or one that I could have confidence in using. For wax build up issues, I would suggest any holistic method such as flushing with oil or utilizing an over-the-counter product as recommended by a pharmacist. Otherwise, wax should be left to do its thing. For real issues, I would advocate for proper medical consultation. The inner workings of our ears are specialized instruments; we should not attempt to tune them ourselves.
Please note that this review is based on my personal experience. I am in no way recommending use of cotton swabs or any other devices of insertion into the ear canal.
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Chiamigos
Product: Chiamigos Chia Pudding Mix (Chocolate Banana Nut) Three words came to mind after trying this dry powder chia pudding mix: Easy. Convenient. Nutritious. And yummy. Okay, four words. Easy: Mix powder with liquid. Literally, that’s it. You... +
Product: Chiamigos Chia Pudding Mix (Chocolate Banana Nut)
Three words came to mind after trying this dry powder chia pudding mix: Easy. Convenient. Nutritious. And yummy. Okay, four words.
Easy: Mix powder with liquid. Literally, that’s it. You can use water or preferred milk that can be hot or cold. So, versatile, too!
Convenient: Because it is easy to make and is a dry powder, this can go just about anywhere. I travel a lot, so I like nutritious products that won't go bad and that I can use fairly fuss-free on a plane and/or in a hotel room. This totally does the trick. Handy to keep at work or take along on a camping trip, too.
Nutritious: Chia seeds are a superfood. What exactly is a ‘superfood’? It means that it is nutrient-dense, a super star of health promoting benefits. In fact, chia is one of the most nutrient packed foods in the world. Small but mighty, these seeds are an invitation to intake calcium, potassium, magnesium, omega 3's, and lots of soluble fibre (helps keep things moving, ya know what I mean?). They are a treasure trove of antioxidants and supply sustainable energy, so put down the morning pastry and try this instead.
This product comes in three flavours: Crunchy Peanut Butter, Almond-Coconut, and the one I tried, Chocolate-Banana-Nut. There is not a single non-organic ingredient included, and no weird stuff either. Real friends don't feed friends junk.
With three yummy flavours already included in the one I tried, I didn’t want to overload it with much extra. But one can never have too much chocolate, am I right? I made a batch, mixing it with almond milk (brand: Simply Almond) and then layered it with strawberries and chopped up pieces of my favourite chocolate fudge fat bombs. This pudding does hold flavour on its own, too. And, as someone who doesn't like oatmeal (it's a texture thing) I wondered if I would like it. I did. A lot.
I have made fast friends with Chiamigos and I cannot wait to try the other flavours.
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Three Farmer's Pea Pops
Product: Three Farmers Pea Pops (Dill Pickle) If I have one junk food vice, it is dill pickle potato chips. I know that if I buy a bag there is the real possibility of nomming the whole thing by snaccident in one sitting, right down to the dust at... +
Product: Three Farmers Pea Pops (Dill Pickle)
If I have one junk food vice, it is dill pickle potato chips. I know that if I buy a bag there is the real possibility of nomming the whole thing by snaccident in one sitting, right down to the dust at the bottom. It is hard to find an alternative that offers a comparable amount of flavour and crunch, while also staying on the right side of healthier eating.
Well, say hello to my new fav: Three Farmers Dill Pickle Pea Pops
First, they had me at ‘dill pickle’, then it was ‘roasted, never fried’. From there, we went to: non-GMO, nut-free, gluten-free, vegan. There is much crunch and a perfect dill pickle taste that registers just below lip puckering. They offer an excellent source of phosphorus (the body needs this to make protein for growth, maintenance, and cell repair) and fibre, as well as iron and potassium. While not fried, they do contain some cold-pressed camelina oil. This is an oil that is very well balanced in Omega 3, 6 and 9. It also has one of the highest smoke points - 100° higher than coconut oil. This is a light, nutty oil that is good for cooking, drizzling and even massages. (Bottles of this oil are also available through Three Farmers.)
Here’s another thing I love: this is a Farm to Fork product. This means that I can literally trace the peas through all production stages - growing, harvesting, processing. Each bag comes with a product code that can be searched on their website to find out where and how all the action happened. My peas came from Keeler, Saskatchewan.
I literally bought these at my local dollar store. Finally, here is a quality, healthy snack that won’t break the bank. There are other flavours to choose from but it will be hard to get me away from my dill pickle ones. Three Farmers also makes crunchy chickpeas and lentils. The bags come in both regular and snack pack sizes.
Easy peasy snacking!
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Sap Sucker
Product: Sap Sucker - Organic Sparkling Tree Water (Lemon) Tired of water but don't want to drink pop? Here's an alternative that packs a nutrient-dense punch - Sap Sucker. This is a sparkling sap water drink that comes from maple trees that have... +
Product: Sap Sucker - Organic Sparkling Tree Water (Lemon)
Tired of water but don't want to drink pop? Here's an alternative that packs a nutrient-dense punch - Sap Sucker. This is a sparkling sap water drink that comes from maple trees that have been sustainably harvested (only once per year) from mature trees (30+ years old).
This is an organic, non-GMO product (whoohoo!) that is free from additives and preservatives. Unlike maple syrup that is tapped and boiled, this water moves from tree to package within 48 hours of harvesting with no heat applied. As the trees pull up moisture through the roots and trunk, it naturally filters as well as adds 46 nutrients. The only alteration is added natural flavour, carbonation and citric acid.
This is an high class upgrade to plain water. With just a hint of sweetness, it is very refreshing and will boost hydration with a nutrient profile you won’t find with ordinary H2O. The minerality is quite light so it won’t overtake flavours if you want to pair it with a meal, but it is also good solo or partnered in a cocktail. I tried both the lemon and the lime and appreciated the mild flavour and gentle carbonation. Most carbonated drinks make me hiccups with the first sip – this one gave me fizz without the hitch.
A Canadian product, all the magic happens in Ontario. The distance from tree to packaging is less than a 2 hour trip. Sustainability and minimal environmental impact is important to this company. At the time of writing, this product is only available in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
This is one time I don’t mind being called a Sucker! Cheers!
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