Chances are, like most people you still use store-bought toothpaste. Maybe you’re informed enough to know that they contain chemicals like fluoride, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), artificial sugars like aspartame, etc that aren’t good for you. Some even have tiny bits of plastic call ‘microbeads’ that are wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. If you already avoid brands with these horrible ingredients (like Crest, Colgate, Sensodyne) then good for you! If not, then you really need to read this.

You should also know that certain brands we once thought were safe can also have some of these chemicals in them now. Burt’s Bees is one example. Tom’s of Maine is another, after it was bought out by Colgate and they sneakily started putting chemicals like SLS in their product. That’s why many people are starting to make their own toothpaste at home. And why not? If it’s good for your health then it’s certainly worth it! Here are 6 important reasons why we feel it’s best to make your own toothpaste with coconut oil.

1. No Harmful Chemicals

Of course we had to start with the chemicals. It is, afterall, the main reason we’re avoiding store-bought toothpaste to begin with. Out of all the chemicals in conventional toothpaste, Fluoride is probably the worst. Sodium Fluoride is a toxic industrial waste product from the aluminum and fertilizer industry that is a poison to your body even in trace amounts. It is NOT the same as calcium fluoride which is found in water naturally.

Another dangerous chemical in conventional toothpaste (such as Colgate Total) is an antibacterial chemical called triclosan, which has been linked to concerns over antibiotic resistance and endocrine disruption. Continue reading →

Do you bite your nails? If so, do you bite them all or just certain ones? There are many reasons scientists have tried to explain nail biting, but have you heard what chirology (palmistry) says about it? Well, we’ve found a brilliant palm reader named Jessica who may be on to something. Here’s what she would tell you if she was doing a palm reading for you. 

It’s not often that I do readings for people who bite their nails. That’s because in chirology biting your nails shows that you have inner resistance to personal growth. So people who munch away at their fingertips might be unconsciously stunting their own growth, and they tend to be less likely to seek counsel from others.

When someone with bitten nails does come for a reading, we first discuss the obvious meanings associated with nail biting such as stress, tension, anxiety, that things feel out of control and worry is their middle name. Then we look a little deeper to try to identify the significant issues of their life where they could do with some help, where there is inner turmoil, each of which fall into categories of our five elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether.

First we discuss which nail you favour and which takes the most punishment. If you bite your middle (earth) finger more than any other, your problem may lie in the realm of the physical (earth).

Continue reading →

How much sleep do you need every night? Chances are, you need at least 6-8  hours of sleep like 98% of the population does. But did you know, there is a group they officially call ‘short sleepers’ who can function perfectly fine with only 4 hours or even less?

Before you go labeling yourself as one, you should know that only about 5% of the people who claim to be short sleepers, actually are.  The rest will eventually start to show signs of chronic sleep deprivation – but not the sleepless elite! That’s because there’s a lot more to the sleepless elite than just their ability to survive without much of it.

They have some rather unique qualities. They are both early birds and night owls simultaneously. They can go to sleep at 2am and be back up with the sun with no problem, and they won’t even need caffeine. In fact, too much caffeine may make them feel jittery since they already have so much energy.

They are usually thin due to their fast metabolism. They may even be accused of being on drugs or having ADHD, simply because most people just can’t understand how someone can have so much energy. They are also outgoing, optimistic and ambitious.

Another key fact is that they do not sleep extra hours, ever. Even when on weekends and vacations. According to the few researchers who have studied them, the pattern sometimes starts in childhood and often runs in families. What complicates things further is that nobody knows how many natural short sleepers are out there. Continue reading →

Stress and anxiety are feelings experienced by every single one of us at least once in our lives.  Anxiety disorders, which are much more severe than mild anxiety, are among the most frequent mental health problems in the United States.

According to statistics, Anxiety Disorders affect 18.1 percent of adults in the United States (approximately 40 million adults between the ages of 18 to 54). – Current estimates put this number much higher – approximately 30 percent – as many people don’t seek help, are misdiagnosed, or don’t know they have issues with anxiety. (source)

So how can you tell if you have it? It’s actually harder than you think. We get so lost in our stress that we don’t realize how much it’s affecting us. Sometimes when we’re stressed we get forgetful about the little (but still important) things. Sometimes we get snappy with those around us, or end up ignoring those closest to us all together.  Regardless of how you act out, it’s not your fault when it happens because like everything in life, it’s all part of the lesson. That doesn’t mean you can’t get a little help occasionally!

Obviously there are many ways to combat stress. Sure, you can always quit your job, sell everything you own and move to a beach somewhere! Not today? Well, before you go the unhealthy route and start talking to your doctor (who is pretty much guaranteed to just offer you pills) maybe you should try something else.

Now, I know what some of you are going to say. “IM STRESSED! How is carrying a rock around supposed to help me!?” Well, for starters you’re not supposed to hit people with it. That’s a no. You carry it around with you! And yes, it really does help! Shall I explain how? Well, no. That would take way too long and let’s be real here, you’re stressed and you don’t want to read a lot of extra stuff right now, especially if you already know how crystals work. So, lets get right down to it. Continue reading →

When was the last time you felt good about eating Fast Food? It’s probably been quite a while. If you do enjoy it occasionally, you probably feel a little guilty about what you’re putting your body through. Well, it doesn’t always have to be that way anymore.  Finally, someone has decided to come up with a better idea and it’s spreading like wildfire!

That someone, is Erica Welton. The name ‘The Organic Coup” came out as a typo when spelling the word “coop” one day, while Erica was first hatching out a plan for an entirely new fast food concept. It was then that she realized the typo actually captured the spirit of what she was trying to do. She also knew she wasn’t alone when it came to wanting a quick and easy alternative to the usual fast food franchises, especially since she is a Mom herself.

Erica then decided her new restaurant would have to be 100% USDA certified Organic. There was no way around it. If she wasn’t going to feed her kids GMOs, pesticides or other toxic chemicals, then why on earth would she feed it to other families?  (Applause)  Erica is also very passionate about sustainability and protecting the environment, so she double checks every product her company uses to make sure it is locally sourced, sustainable and environmentally friendly.

She also had to make sure her food would meet the bar when it came to fast food. Therefore, she would have to design the ultimate ORGANIC fast food chicken sandwich that can please everyone. (Not so easy to do in America)  The chicken would have to skip the usual chlorine bath since that’s pretty flippin’ disgusting and shouldn’t happen to food to begin with. So, Erica did some research and found a cool new way to do the same thing but by using super-chilled air.. the way they’ve been doing it in Europe for years.

And thus, The Organic Coup Signature Sandwich was born! This time, the chicken gets to bathe in buttermilk and spices instead of chlorine. It’s then breaded and fried in locally sourced organic coconut oil, one of the healthiest (and most expensive) frying oils on the market. She pairs it with spicy veggies, a toasted organic Artisan bun and one of her amazing homestyle sauces, like spicy BBQ ranch or sesame ginger.

If you feel like skipping the carbs in the bun you can always opt for the wrap or the salad version. Or if you want to go even healthier, they offer a vegan tofu burger substitute from the Hodo Soy Beanery.  (Hodo Soy is the country’s leading artisanal tofu maker and supplies the company with its organic tofu burgers)

They also have organic caramel and chocolate dipped popcorn as a dessert. YUM!

We were very impressed by how attentive she is to her business, the quality of the food she provides and how much she cares about her customers and the environment. We probably shouldn’t have been surprised to hear that she pays her employees a fair wage too, but when we heard she pays them 16 dollars an hour we were quite stunned. Does paying them so well hurt her income? Not at all! In fact, it actually inspires even more people to only buy from her!

Just think about that for a second. McDonalds and KFC tried to say they would go bankrupt if they had to pay their employees a fair wage. (Lies!) Their products are also pretty much the most unhealthiest food you can buy.

This is what they have to say about it on their website:

“The Coup believes in food that is raised within the Organic USDA standards.  These standards do not allow Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), toxic chemicals and pesticides, or the use of antibiotics or added hormones in livestock.  We believe in sustainability, not just for the quality of life today, but also for the future.

We believe in “Team Coup” (our employees) and we are investing in them with a livable wage that sets a new standard in fast food. We are building an army of Coup Nation Ambassadors as the food movement is at its tipping point. Coup Nation Ambassadors – people like you – are changing the status quo by transforming the conventional and unsustainable food system through vision and action. The simple act of buying a certified organic sandwich makes you an agent of change. We are seeing the future of food come from people with deep courage, powerful voices and unwavering vision who want to make a positive impact.  Please join us at The Organic Coup in eating your everyday peaceful protest.”

Looks like it’s time Erica shows these multinational corporations how it SHOULD be done!

Check out their website for more details:
The Organic Coup

Article written by Journalist, Activist and Researcher, Lara Starr

For a long time, people have tried to explain why things are the way they are. In modern times, Scientists have been trying to surpass the knowledge passed on by Priests, Prophets, Yogis and many other spiritual teachers since before we even started recording our history. Many believe Science still has a lot of catching up to do.

There are certain spiritual subjects, such as the existence of the soul, that are finally starting to get some of the attention they deserve. Let’s talk about the 6 most common.

1. We are spiritual beings on a human journey.  – “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

We may inhabit a physical body, but that is not all we truly are. We are consciousness energy. An energetic consciousness made manifest in physical form. Anyone that has studied OBE’s or Astral Projection knows full well that life is not what it seems.

There is so much more that is buried beneath the level of our consciousness that we struggle to explain because we don’t have a full scientific understanding of it yet, nor do we have an easy way to access it at will. (Intuition, deja vu, ESP, etc) But, that doesn’t mean those things aren’t real. Like any skill or physical ability, you just have to do some research and put what you’ve learned into practice to develop them.

2. Our souls never die– we just change our focus.  “Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another.” – Albert Einstein Continue reading →