I always keep a bottle of Castile soap around the house because it has so many different uses. I  just made a batch of what is now my favorite hand soap.

It  takes about 1 minute to make, and costs about $1.

• 2 oz Dr Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap                          
  
• 2 oz Grapeseed Oil

(or Olive oil, or whatever you have handy)

• 2 oz Filtered Water

Combine all ingredients in a 6 oz pump container ( I use an old container of face wash) and gently mix by turning the container upside down a few times.  You will want to do this occasionally, as over time, the ingredients will separate. This Hand Soap is very soft, sudsy, and effective. It smells great and castile soap comes in many different scents. You may also get creative and add different essential oils for say, peppermint/lavender scent.

This recipe proved to me that all-natural, biodegradable, earth and people friendly body care does NOT have to be expensive or difficult to make. Enjoy!

1) SLASH THE SODIUM. One of the healthiest things you can do to begin eating healthier is to move away from processed/prepackaged foods, which are preserved with loads of sodium. Here’s what you need to know;  government guidelines recommend that people consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day — about one teaspoon of salt. So if you eat three meals a day, you’ll want to stay within 800 milligrams of sodium per meal. This may seem like a daunting task, since a serving of  a prepackage rice dish may have at least 800mg per serving. So unless that half cup of  the San Francisco treat is your WHOLE meal, you will want to find some ways to cut sodium. Tonight, replace that boxed rice side with brown rice. It takes about 20 mins to cook. Once the water is absorbed, add fresh spinach and cover for a few minutes to blanch the spinach, grate some cheddar cheese on top and the sodium content for the dish falls to 170mg, almost all of which is contained in the cheese. Add raw nuts instead, and you have a low sodium side.  Best of all, this dish still only takes one pot to prepare!