This is a guest post from Sally Writes, a freelance writer specializing in health and outdoors topics.
If you’ve ever had plantar fasciitis, then you know pain. That sharp, stabbing pain or deep, aching pain in the middle of your heel or along the arch of your foot caused by the inflammation of the connective tissue that runs from your heel to your toes. While unpleasant, there are a few easy ways to minimize the discomfort so you can be back on your feet in no time at all.
Resting
Although gentle exercising with plantar fasciitis is an important part of the recovery, one of the most recommended treatments for this condition is also resting and staying off your foot. But if you are an athlete or an active person, this could be hard for you to do. If that is the case, try to stay off your foot as much as possible and limit the daily activities that are causing you pain.
Resting can be frustrating for those who are itching to get going, so this will require a bit of patience.
Ingest Anti-inflammatory Agents
The most commonly used anti-inflammatory agents are Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), like Advil, and ice packs or ice baths, but these are not for everyone. Some foods naturally reduce inflammation, and while it is not a commonly recommended treatment for plantar fasciitis, a sensible diet can help it heal, especially when combined with other therapies. Here’s a list of some of them:
Fruits and vegetables, which are rich in anti-oxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals
Oils and fats such as those you get from seeds, nuts, and avocados
Sources of protein such as fish and poultry
Stretching and massage
Stretching is one of the most common recommendations for physical therapy of plantar fasciitis. There are multiple stretches you can do to strengthen the muscles in your foot and make them more flexible. Here are only a few of them:
Sometimes doctors might recommend that you wear a night splint. A night splint stretches your calf and the arch of your foot while you are sleeping. Because the plantar fascia is in an extended position overnight, it allows for it to heal and makes for less painful first steps in the morning.
Recovery from plantar fasciitis takes time!
Recovering from plantar fasciitis is not something that will happen overnight. It will take patience, perseverance, and self-discipline to recuperate fully. Most importantly, though, as dull as it may seem, you want to be sure you listen to your specialist because that’s the key step to a hassle-free recovery!
You knew you wanted to take charge of your family’s health when you first began learning about natural remedies. You probably even knew it wouldn’t be easy.
But you had no idea you’d be so overwhelmed and confused by how much there is to learn and all the conflicting opinions.
We’ve been there. I get it. Here’s the thing, though: we didn’t really have the extra time or dollars needed to research and invest in all those wonderful DIY remedies and essential oil concoctions. This meant it took waaayyyy too long to get where we wanted to be, health-wise.
We did our best with what we had, but it was hard work. And that’s why I want to make it easier for you.
What if I told you someone had already put together a complete package to get you up to speed on using natural remedies – one that’s already carefully vetted for you (saving you time) – at a price that’s way too low to miss (saving you money)?
Well, look no further, because it’s here!
Introducing The Herbs and Essential Oils Super Bundle!
The Herbs and Essential Oils Super Bundle combines everything you need (and then some) in one fabulous package, for the most affordable price ever. (Seriously, just wait until I tell you the price.)
This year’s edition of the Herbs and Essential Oils Super Bundle includes 16 ebooks and printables and 10 full eCourses!
These top-quality resources cover everything you need to give you the skills and confidence to start using natural remedies in your home.
Whats included in the herbs & essential oils super bundle?
You’ll get a complete library to help you:
Rebuild your medicine cabinet with natural remedies
Create beauty and skincare products without harmful ingredients
Treat your digestive complaints, pain, colds, and flus with everything in your medicine cabinet
Preserve, harvest, and cook with healing herbs
Discover the cancer-sugar connection and take back control of your health
Boost your mood, heat up the romance, and increase mental clarity with essential oil blends
Liven up your meals and get major health benefits by using the right herbs
and so much more!
You sort of need to see it to believe it, but the package includes 26 digital products and it’s worth over $770!
Besides being so incredibly helpful, one of the things I like best about the bundle is the price. By combining their collective buying power, the team at Ultimate Bundles is able to give you access to over $770 worth of amazing products for the tiny price of just $47.
Here’s how it works:
Visit their website, take a quick look at all the goodness that comes in this package, then click the “Get my copy now!” button to go through their simple and secure 3-step checkout process.
You’ll receive an email with a login to their online access portal, where you’ll begin downloading your eBooks, signing up for your eCourses, and redeeming your free bonus offers.
Use their Getting Started Guide to pick the topic you want to tackle first and start using natural remedies!.
I’d hate for you to miss out, so click HERE to order your copy.
It’s even backed by a 100% happiness guarantee, so you can make sure it’s right for you.
You want to protect your family’s health. You shouldn’t have to feel overwhelmed because it costs too much or takes too much time to find the right resources.
Let’s cut to the chase: you want six-pack abs, a toned yet shapely butt, and arms that don’t have jiggly bits underneath. You want to get rid of those stubborn kankles, ease the constant chafing between your thighs, and not have sore knees, hips, and back ALL the time. Heck, you might just want to fit back into that old pair of jeans you allow to lurk at the bottom of your drawers, in the hope that one day, one day, they’ll slip back on like a glove. Well, the answer is simpler than you think.
Workouts don’t need to be complicated, drawn out, unenjoyable affairs. They don’t even need to be that frequent, to get the results you want. I’ve spent the last 10 years perfecting the ultimate paleo workout routine, from what protein to consume to which exercises to perform, and it’ll have you transitioning from flab to fab in no time (guys – feel free to replace the decidedly feminine “fab” with something manly like “jab”, if it makes you more comfortable).
So without further ado, here’s quite possibly the best workout routine you’ll ever lay your eyes on.
Your pre-workout routine
First, know that your body won’t respond well to strenuous exercise if it’s tired or still recovering from a previous workout. Ensure that you haven’t done an intensive weight-bearing workout in at least the past 2 days, preferably 3. Also ensure you got enough sleep last night, as your body is already stressed in this case and you don’t want to introduce any more stress into your life with a hard workout.
Step 1: prepare a protein source
For me, this is almost always a protein shake. While many people have been led to believe that whey protein isn’t that great for your health, it’s hands-down the best protein source for workouts if you get hold of the good stuff. That means whey from grass-fed cows, that has no additives or artificial flavors, and is preferably organic. This protein powder ticks all those boxes, and it’s been my go-to protein powder for the past 4 years. If you’re completely against whey protein (just FYI, often people with dairy allergies respond well to whey protein isolate, which shouldn’t contain lactose or casein), then you can always try an organic pea protein powder. Or even just a big hunk of meat, preferably the size of your palm. Your choice! Aim for around 30 grams of protein.
Drink half the protein shake 10 minutes before the workout, and half after the workout. This allows your muscles to synthesize the protein while you work out, which means faster muscle gains and quicker muscle recovery.
Step 2: warm up
Here, we just want to get your blood flowing and your muscles limber, so you don’t do any damage during the workout. This means 2 minutes of jumping around, shaking, dancing, or doing star jumps like nobody’s watching. I hope for your sake that no-one’s watching, as you’re going to look like a complete nutcase.
Your optimum paleo workout
After you’ve knocked back half your protein smoothie (10 mins before exercising) and warmed up a little, it’s time to get down and dirty. A couple of important points to keep in mind:
Use whatever equipment you have available. I regularly work out using a 10 liter container of mineral water, as it’s a good weight for many exercises and has a handle – kind of like a rudimentary kettlebell. Nothing beats an actual kettlebell, however – I’ve found that a good starting kettlebell for ladies is 6 kg or 8 kg, and 10 kg or 12 kg for men.
Perform the reps (reps = repetitions) to failure, unless otherwise stated. This means doing as many reps as you can of a given exercise until you literally can’t do any more. This will shock your muscles as much as possible (a good thing), which means faster fat burn and greater muscle mass development. No half-arsed attempts, people!
Ensure your form is spot on! If you have to practice an exercise at a lighter weight initially, so be it – you need to do the exercise how its supposed to be done, or risk injury.
Take a 1 minute rest between each exercise – use this time to have a sip of water and write down how many reps you did! You’ll need to keep increasing these reps with each new workout, in order to grow muscle mass.
Workout #1 (day 1)
10 glute activators (essentially just hip thrusts which you can do on the ground or on a bench that help to activate your glutes, which are often dormant going into a workout)
kettlebell bicep curls (remember to keep your arms in by your sides, and you can just do one arm at a time if you only have one kettlebell)
wide-grip pull-ups – the guy in that video cracks me up, but he’s right about how to do it! (use anything around the house or gym for this – could be a lateral tree branch, a pergola, a doorframe, or a chin-up bar. If you don’t have any of these, just skip this one)
After your exercises, take a couple of minutes to shake it off and loosen up if you feel a bit tight. I find just going for a very quick jog around the yard helps with this. Now its time to drink the rest of your protein shake and rehydrate. Drink lots of water during and after the workout – dehydration is not your friend!
Workout 1 shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes, and workout 2 shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes. Studies show that shorter, more intense workouts are more effective for weight loss and muscle gain than long workouts. Give yourself plenty of time to recover between workouts (I always space them at least 3 days apart, interspersed with days of mild to moderate cardio like walking, running, cycling and kayaking).
I always have my phone with me during workouts – I use it to note down how many reps I do per exercise for each workout, so that I can ensure I’m always increasing reps over time. I also use it as a timer for the side planks. You should also consider getting yourself a good exercise mat or yoga mat, to make your experience a whole lot more enjoyable. And crank those snazzy tunes! Nothing like a good workout playlist to get the blood pumping. I’m digging Spotify’s “Motivation Mix” right now.
That’s it! Easy, right? Try this routine for a month, and see how you look and feel. We’d love to hear if it kicked those kankles and busted that butt!
Last week, I discussed the merits of oil pulling, and whether there was any scientific evidence to back up all the claims floating around on the net. It turns out that there was, and as a result I’m halfway through a two week oil pulling regime. Hurrah! But something that all the studies agreed on was that oil pulling alone wasn’t enough for optimum oral health – for that we need the humble toothbrush…
Why conventional toothpaste is harming your health
Have you ever paid any attention to those Colgate (or any other big-name toothpaste brand) ads? You’ll notice they always have snappy signoffs like “the toothpaste that dentists use!”. Well, while your average conventional dentist might know his or her way around a tooth filling or cavity, they’re not always up to speed on the latest and greatest when it comes to everyday oral hygiene.
And it turns out that the “toothpaste that dentists use” isn’t something that you want to be using! There’s all that triclosan, all those synthetic chemicals and additives, and of course fluoride (hint: it’s not as healthy as you think!). As one recent study concluded:
“A proportion of ingredients (28.9% [n = 13]) were found to be both unnecessary to improving the oral health of children and solely used to increase their appeal. Of this list of unnecessary ingredients, 69.2% (n = 9) were shown to have contamination risks associated with chronic consumption, including enamel demineralization.”
Let me just get this straight: almost a third of ingredients in toothpaste are completely unnecessary, and some of them can even damage your teeth?? That probably explains why 98% of the population suffer from oral health problems. Thanks a lot, toothpaste.
Make your own DIY paleo toothpaste
As ever, the solution is to take matters into your own hands. With the exception of the wonderful folks over at OraWellness, you can’t really even trust the supposedly “healthy/alternative” toothpaste brands. They always manage to slip something nasty in there, regardless of best intentions.
And as I was scouring the net for a solution, I came across a tooth remineralizing recipe from WellnessMama. The below recipe is a slight adaptation on hers, and it’s just as effective – I can personally attest to that! We use it morning and night, and it’s working wonders for our pearly whites.
DIY recipe: remineralizing “toothpaste”
The word “toothpaste” has quotation marks around it because it’s more of a powder, if I’m completely honest. But don’t let that put you off – the powder is just as easy to use as conventional toothpaste. If you don’t have all the ingredients, don’t stress too much – the main thing is that you use bentonite clay and baking soda. Bentonite clay is a swelling clay that attracts and binds to toxins in the mouth (or anywhere for that matter), making it an excellent choice for detoxifying the mouth and giving your teeth and gums a helping hand. Baking soda (which you’ll incidentally find in conventional toothpaste – quite possibly the only good ingredient!) contains essential minerals, whitens teeth, and is alkalizing.
Track down a wide-mouth mason jar or medium-sized glass jar of any kind. Make sure it has a lid, as you’ll be using this stuff for at least a few weeks!
Next, carefully spoon/sprinkle all of the ingredients into the jar. Using a teaspoon, mix thoroughly until all the ingredients are blended equally.
To use, either dip your toothbrush into a little coconut oil or simply dampen with water, then dip your brush into the powder mix. Use the bass brushing technique to get rid of all that plaque without damaging your gums, and rinse with cool to warm water.
To store your remineralizing tooth powder, simply put the lid on! It’ll last for months, as there’s no ingredient that will spoil. Plus there’s no risk of mold, on account of all the antimicrobial agents present in your powder.
And if you can’t be bothered making your own, there’s always the OraWellness HealThyMouth Blend. It’s your call!
Have you tried a natural oral care routine? Has it helped to reverse cavities, kick bad breath…that kind of thing? We’d love to hear your stories!
In my time as an alternative health guru, I’ve come across loads of old wives’ tales that simply don’t stack up. Tonics that cure all manner of illnesses. Home-made lotions that clear up all kinds of skin problems. Strange habits that somehow, mysteriously cure health conditions people have been trying to treat for years. Some work, and some fail. Some are funny, some make a lot of sense, and some are downright dangerous. So which category does oil pulling fall into?
What actually IS oil pulling?
Alright, so you’ve got a vague idea of oil pulling involving coconut oil and your mouth…but what does it actually mean?
Oil pulling developed as an integral part of Ayurveda, a traditional form of Indian medicine which took shape between 3000 and 5000 years ago. Essentially, it involves swishing any kind of edible oil around in the mouth for a period of time, to prevent dental decay, oral difficulties, bleeding gums, and plenty more. Commonly used oils include sesame oil, sunflower oil, olive oil and coconut oil. Coconut oil, being the new golden girl of the alternative health world, is the obvious choice for most oil pullers.
While it has it’s origins in ancient Ayurvedic practice, it wasn’t until the early 1990s that oil pulling was popularized by a certain Ukrainian doctor by the name of F. Karach. In 1991, Dr Karach delivered a lecture to the Houston Indian Senior Citizens Association, and word got out. Next thing, the good doctor’s lecture was posted in the Journal of World Teletherapy, and it was on to bigger and better things from there.
Dr Karach had some bold claims about the benefits oil pulling could provide for not only oral health, but general health as well. Karach believed that oil pulling could cure upwards of 30 systemic diseases and health conditions, including asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and even migraine headaches. While some of these claims are undoubtedly farfetched, modern science continues to establish links between oral hygiene and general health. A well-researched example is the association between oral infections and diabetes mellitus.
So there’s obviously some truth to Dr Karach’s beliefs, but the problem is that there’s very little scientific basis to most of them. Sure, oil pulling might help you treat diabetes, headaches or even asthma, but it also might not. So what benefits do we know that oil pulling provides, without a shadow of doubt?
The scientifically proven benefits of oil pulling
Happily, there’s actually a reasonable amount of studies into the health benefits of oil pulling. While many of them so far have been small and for a relatively short duration, the results show that there’s some definite scientific substance to several claims about oil pulling.
Oil pulling treats gingivitis and plaque
Research indicates that oil pulling is an effective treatment against gingivitis. A 2009 study published in the Indian Journal of Denture Research took 20 compliant teenage males with some seriously nasty oral hygiene and asked half of them to do oil pulling using sesame oil once a day, along with their (presumably lacking) usual dental routine. The other 10 boys were given chlorhexidine mouthwash to use on a daily basis as a control group.
After 10 days, the test subjects were checked to see how their oral health was coming along. The researchers found that both groups had comparable reductions in both plaque and gingivitis, and that these reductions were significant. In their words: “the oil pullingtherapy showed a reduction in the plaque index, modified gingival scores, and total colony count of aerobic microorganisms in the plaque of adolescents with plaque-induced gingivitis.” And of course the winner here is oil pulling, because it doesn’t expose your gums (and therefore bloodstream) to nasty chemicals and additives like those found in the commercial mouthwash.
Oil pulling treats Streptococcus mutans
This is good news, because Strep mutans is one of the leading bad guys in the harmful oral bacteria world. This 2008 study once again grabbed hold of 20 adolescent boys, which leads me to believe that there’s some affiliation between this study and the previous one that looked at gingivitis. Nothing wrong with that, technically.
Researchers gave the half of the boys sesame oil to conduct oil pulling once a day for 2 weeks, and the other half that same nasty chlorhexidine mouthwash. After checking up on the lads, they found that “the reduction in the S. mutans count in the plaque of the study group was statistically significant after 1 and 2 weeks.” This suggests that while oil pulling is effective in treating Strep mutans, you need to do it for at least a week to see any results. Good to know, right?
While much of the research has focused on sesame oil, coconut oil shows even more promise. A comprehensive 2011 study published in the Asia Journal of Public Health found that coconut oil was not only effective against S. mutans, it also exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against our old foe Candida albicans.
Oil pulling treats halitosis (bad breath!)
We all know someone who battles with bad breath. Perhaps that someone is you. Either way, constantly belting out great clouds of fumes isn’t great for one’s social life. Luckily, there appears to be an easy solution, and it’s not carcinogenic “sugarfree” chewing gum. Yup, it’s oil pulling!
A 2011 study published in the Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry (say that ten times!) once again pitted sesame oil pulling against regular mouthwash to see which was most effective in treating halitosis and the bacteria that cause bad breath. Weirdly enough, they also conducted the research using 20 adolescents. Interesting. Regardless of the deja vu, the results were promising: “oil pulling therapy has been equally effective like chlorhexidine on halitosis and organisms associated with halitosis.” Garbled English aside, 2 weeks of oil pulling appeared to make a big headway into treating bad breath.
Oil pulling DOES NOT detoxify the blood
Sadly, this is one rumor that simply isn’t true. This study puts it nicely: “oil pulling cannot actually draw toxins out of the blood as claimed because the oral mucosa does not act as a semi-permeable membrane to allow toxins to pass through.” In other words, while toxins can enter the bloodstream via the gums, oil can’t somehow magically draw those toxins right back out again. Toxins still in the mouth? Sure. Toxins elsewhere in the body? Nope.
How to do oil pulling with coconut oil
While much of the research has examined oil pulling through the lens of either sesame oil or sunflower oil, coconut oil is still your best choice in my opinion. It’s a wide-spectrum antibacterial and anti-microbial agent, meaning it can kill off a range of different pathogens in your mouth, and it has a much better omega-3 to omega-6 ratio than sunflower or sesame. Because more omega-6 fatty acids mean more inflammation, coconut oil is the logical choice.
Here’s what to do:
Pop a heaped teaspoon of coconut oil into your mouth. If it’s solid, give it a minute to melt before you start the next step.
Swish the coconut oil gently around your mouth. The idea is to move it between your teeth from one side of your mouth to the other – like you would with mouthwash, but more gently. Continue doing this for 10 to 20 minutes – the longer you do it for, the more bacteria you’ll draw out of your teeth and gums. Try to avoid going over 20 minutes however, as word has it that your body starts to re-absorb the toxins after that point.
Spit the oil out. Don’t be tempted to keep the coconut oil for cooking or anything else, as it’s loaded with your mouth toxins! Gross! I usually spit it into a paper towel and put it in the rubbish, as it could clog up your plumbing if spat into the sink and it’s too fatty for the compost.
Rinse your mouth with warm water, and spit that out as well!
Brush your teeth as per your normal routine. For best results, and because I care about my gums, I use the OraWellness Healthy Mouth Blend along with the Bass toothbrush. They’re more than your average toothpaste and toothbrush, but a worthy investment in your health.
As we saw in several of the studies, your best bet is to continue oil pulling every day for at least 2 weeks. Feel free to take a break after that point, but there’s nothing stopping you from making this a part of your regular dental routine. Your teeth just gave you a high five!
Oh, and just so you know – I’m literally giving oil pulling a go as I type this post! I’m planning on doing it every day over the next couple of weeks, and I’ll report back on whether it’s made any difference to my pearly whites at the end.
UPDATE: I’m two weeks into my daily oil pulling commitment and actually really enjoying it. My teeth have definitely gotten a couple of shades whiter (which could also be in-part due to my remineralizing tooth powder recipe), and my mouth feels a lot fresher. I also had a small cut on one of my gums from a rare chip eating incident, and it healed super fast with the oil pulling. I’m going to keep this up for at least another week and see how things go!
Thanks for reading, everyone! What are your thoughts on oil pulling? Still think it’s just a load of codswallop, or have you used it already and seen significant improvements in your oral health?
So, you’ve seen the amazing health and wellness benefits that essential oils can bring into your life. Excellent. You’ve signed up as a wellness advocate with the likes of doTERRA or Young Living, are buying oils on a regular basis, and use them daily. Awesome. Perhaps you’re just buying oils occasionally, when you’re favorites run out. That’s cool too!
But what about diffusers? They’re typically a larger investment than single oils, and you’ve heard that a lot of diffusers don’t really cut the mustard. You want a diffuser that’ll stand the test of time, fill your home with wonderful aromatics, and above all not break the budget. It’s a hard bargain you drive, but a commendable one.
This post is all about helping you reach an informed decision about which diffuser is best for your needs. While I’ll admit up front that I’m a doTERRA advocate (because they’re so darn awesome!), I’m making a point of being as impartial as possible and reviewing a wide range of diffusers from different companies.
Common types of diffusers
There’s plenty of confusion out there when it comes to diffusers, and part of that is because of the wide range of types that are available on the market. Ultimately, however, there’s 4 main varieties of essential oil diffuser:
ultrasonic diffusers
nebulizing diffusers
heat diffusers
evaporative diffusers
From the experiences we’ve had and the preliminary research I’ve conducted, I personally wouldn’t recommend using heat diffusers or evaporative diffusers. From most accounts, they aren’t as effective at spreading the essential oils throughout a space, and in some cases (as with the heat diffusers) the essential oil may be denatured by the process. Feel free to make your own conclusions on this one, however.
Whether you choose to invest in nebulizing or ultrasonic diffusers is up to you. Here’s a few pros and cons for each:
nebulizing diffusers are perhaps the most effective diffusers at covering a large area. The essential oils attach directly to the unit, so there’s no water required, and they can fill a room much more quickly than ultrasonic diffusers. However, they do tend to cost a little more than ultrasonic diffusers, and you’ll go through your oils quicker.
ultrasonic diffusers are generally cheaper than nebulizing diffusers and double as a humidifier, which is useful for those cold, dry winter months or if you’re sleeping in a room with low relative humidity. Many of them do tend to have lights that you can’t turn off, which isn’t great for melatonin, and they’re not quite as strong as the nebulizing diffusers.
Purespa ultrasonic essential oil diffuser
This is one classy ultrasonic diffuser. It’s relatively compact, looks good, and is BPA free. Here’s the pros and cons of the Purespa Deluxe Ultrasonic Diffuser:
Pros
Large 120 ml tank, which means it can be left on for up to 10 hours. That’s considerably longer than most other diffusers, which typically range between 2 and 6 hours.
The LED lights can be completely switched off! This makes it a great choice for having in your bedroom as you sleep.
Easy to clean and refill
It looks pretty darn sexy, if I’m honest.
Cons
Many people have reported that the diffuser went downhill after a month. Some have said that it becomes noisy or inefficient after that time, but it’s worth noting that the company who makes them seems to have good customer service, and they typically replace the unit no questions asked.
The touch-sensitive on/off switch can be difficult to operate for some people.
It’s a little noisier than some other ultrasonic humidifiers. Not super noisy, but the slight whirr may annoy some people.
The lights continuously toggle through a series of colors rather than remaining on one, which might put off some people.
Overall, the Purespa Deluxe diffuser deserves much of the hype it receives. The fact that the some of the units degraded after a month might worry me, but that was only for a very small minority of the purchasers and that’s likely to happen to many diffusers, no matter how good the quality is. I really like that it can go completely dark, which to me makes it a great diffuser+humidifier combo at night.
Cost: $40-$50 on Amazon (there’s a less fancy, but equally effective, version of the Purespa diffuser for $10 less than the deluxe version)
Trillia MINA III Aromatherapy Nebulizer diffuser
The future is here, and it looks like the Trillia Mina III Nebulizing essential oil diffuser. It’s a ridiculously long name for a super-sleek yet down-to-earth diffuser that packs a serious punch. If you’re ok with spending a bit more money, this could be the right diffuser for you.
Pros
Looks fantastic, either in the natural wood finish or the sleek white version
For a nebulizing diffuser, it’s one of the most quiet I’ve found. The pump is rated at a super low 5 db noise level, so it’s almost as quiet as an ultrasonic diffuser
The nebulizer and high performance air pump mean it can service up to 800 square feet of your home! That’s actually pretty impressive.
Your essential oils are completely encased in glass, meaning there’s no potential for plastic degradation as with some ultrasonic diffusers
Cons
It’s a whole lot more expensive than your average diffuser
It’s still a little noisier than some of the higher quality ultrasonic diffusers
Shuts off automatically when the oil runs out, but the light stays on until it is manually switched off. Kind of unnecessary.
I’m actually hard-pressed to find much wrong with the Trillia Mina III. I love that the essential oil is completely encased in glass, because I simply can’t bring myself to fully trust plastic diffusers. This means that you can diffuse citrus essential oils without any concern of plastic breakdown, as is the case with some other diffusers. I’m also impressed with how much coverage this thing has – some people have even reported that it can diffuse effectively over 1000 square feet. This means that, while it’s more expensive than other diffusers, it does the job of 3 or 4 cheaper diffusers. Kind of a no-brainer, really.
Cost: $99 on Amazon.
Urpower ultrasonic essential oil diffuser
Easily one of the most popular diffusers available, the Urpower Essential Oil Diffuser has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 from a whopping 12,000 reviews on Amazon. It’s hard to argue with those statistics. At the time of writing this post, it’s also one of the cheapest diffusers we’ve come across, at a measly $20.
Pros
Two mist settings, meaning you can up the ante when you need more essential oil action around the home or if you’re using it in different-sized rooms
Super quiet, perhaps the most quiet ultrasonic unit I’ve come across
Small and compact, making it a good travel companion
Considerably more affordable than most other high-quality diffusers.
Cons
It can be hard to twist off the top of the unit to fill up the reservoir.
Only operates for up to 6 hours
While the LED lights can be turned off at night, the small “on” indicator light can’t. Not great for sleeping.
If you’re looking for a solid choice at a low price, you could do worse than the Urpower Essential Oil Diffuser. You’re not going to get as much coverage as the Trillia Mina III, nor as long an operation time (like the Purespa Deluxe), but I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any first time essential oil users.
Cost: $20 on Amazon (currently on special)
Innogear ultrasonic essential oil diffuser
Look the same as the Urpower diffuser? That’s because it is! Exact same product, different name. The Innogear essential oil diffuser is also going for $20 right now, so it’s really just down to the name.
doTERRA ultrasonic petal diffuser
The doTERRA petal diffuser is simple and straightforward. It lacks many of the finer points that other diffusers offer, and is admittedly a lot less aesthetically pleasing, but I don’t mind that – not every diffuser needs to be a work of art! This was my very first diffuser, and it continues to work without a hitch 3 years later – it’s even travelled with me across several continents, so that’s saying something!
Pros
Simple and reliable. I’ve never had any issues with this product
Reasonably quiet, although does have a slight tinkling sound occasionally
Mist reach of up to 330 square feet, which is more than many other ultrasonic diffusers
Cons
The LED light can be switched off, but there’s still a small light behind the “on” indicator that can’t be switched off. This does create some light, which can be annoying for sleeping.
A bit “uglier” than some other ultrasonic units
Could do with a slightly longer operation time
Ultimately, the doTERRA petal diffuser is still a good first choice for those starting out with essential oils. I can personally say that these things just keep on going, so there’s no doubt to its quality. It is, however, a bit more expensive than many of the other ultrasonic contenders.
Cost: Currently $58.60 on Amazon. Note that it can be bought wholesale for $47 if you’re a doTERRA Wellness Advocate.
doTERRA ultrasonic lotus diffuser
I haven’t tried the doTERRA lotus essential oil diffuser yet but based on preliminary reviews wouldn’t recommend it. It’s horribly overpriced, and as far as effectiveness it’s about the same as most other standard diffusers. You’re better off investing in the Trillia Mina III, which is still $20 cheaper and works far more effectively.
Pros
Looks nice, and has a relatively unique design
Doesn’t take up much surface area
Cons
Ridiculously overpriced for what it is: a standard essential oil diffuser.
Cost: $120 on Amazon.
Young Living ultrasonic diffuser
The Young Living Rose Home Diffuser is essentially just a more expensive version of the doTERRA petal diffuser. It has all the usual features that most ultrasonic units provide, and is a solid yet unexciting choice for your first diffuser.
Pros
Looks nice-ish, if you like roses!
Cons
Super expensive, for what you get: a standard ultrasonic diffuser
Has been known to break down after 6 months
Has a smaller coverage than the doTERRA petal diffuser
Overall, it doesn’t really make sense to buy this unit (or the Young Living “Dewdrop” diffuser, for that matter) when you have so many other, more reasonably-priced diffusers available.
Cost: $75 on Amazon.
Which essential oil diffuser is best?
It’s difficult to say which is the king (or queen) of diffusers, as there’s just so many different kinds out there. I have, however, reviewed a good range of diffuser types over varying price ranges, so this gives you a good idea of how the market is segmented. Based on my own experiences with these diffusers and other people’s reviews, here’s my two picks.
Best ultrasonic essential oil diffuser: the Purespa Deluxe Ultrasonic Diffuser. For what is still a reasonable price of around $40, you get a top-quality diffuser that has an impressive operation time of 10 hours and with lights that can be completely turned off to help you sleep. It’s only shortcoming is a slightly smaller coverage than the doTERRA petal diffuser.
Best nebulizing essential oil diffuser: while I only reviewed one nebulizing diffuser, the Trillia Mina III Nebulizing diffuser is the obvious choice for top-quality essential oil aromatherapy. I love that it’s made from hand-blown glass, that it doesn’t contain any nasty plastic, and that it can diffuse over a huge area. In this way, it replaces up to 4 ultrasonic essential oil diffusers. The price may deter some buyers, but if you’re looking for quality, this is a great choice.
What essential oil diffuser to you use? Would you recommend any specific diffuser to the team here at Thrive Primal? We’d love to know how you got on with your diffuser purchasing experience!
It’s all very well sticking strictly to your Paleo or Primal diet, but there are times when you just want things to be how they used to. Glutenous sandwiches piled high with questionable deli meats and delicious vegetable oil-based mayo. Pizza, stacked with cheese and faux-meat to your heart’s content. A fresh glass of diabetes-inducing coca-cola, clinking merrily with cubes of ice and beading invitingly in the late afternoon sun.
Sorry, I lost my train of thought for a moment there. Sure, these things were delicious at the time, but the days (perhaps weeks) of post-dietary meltdown recovery really wasn’t worth it.
Luckily, this isn’t a black or white scenario. You can still revisit those gluttonous times of old while maintaining your impressive clean-eating record. We’ve already churned out heaps of recipes that have done just that, including Primal pancakes, Paleo banana-choc-chia cakelets, gluten-free Oreo cookie sandwiches, and a whole lot more. But there’s something super important missing from that list: chicken wings!
Just because you’ve gone Paleo, Primal or ancestral doesn’t mean you don’t watch the Superbowl every year. It doesn’t mean you pass on the opportunity to sit out on the patio with your mates and have a few “cold ones”. It doesn’t mean you’ve moved on from game nights or movie nights with your friends or loved ones. And what do all these things have in common? Why, they all go swimmingly with a big bowl of crispy, zesty, saucy chicken wings.
So, without further ado, here’s an awesome Paleo- and Primal-friendly wing recipe that will have you thinking you’d died and gone to heaven. Chicken wing heaven, that is.
Paleo recipe: BBQ chicken wings
What would a wing platter be without the quintessential BBQ sauce smothering those meaty chunks of glory? Personally, barbecue wings are my favorite, so I was more than happy to give this recipe a shot! If you don’t have all the ingredients available in your kitchen, feel free to mix and match – getting creative is half the fun!
1. BBQ Rub ingredients and instructions
1 tsp mustard powder
1 tsp rosemary (dried or fresh and finely diced)
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp paprika
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until evenly distributed. This will form your chicken rub in step three!
In a saucepan, melt the coconut oil over low-medium heat. Add in the diced onion, and cook until the onion has turned transparent or soft, around 5 minutes or so.
Add the minced or diced garlic to the saucepan, cook for a minute, then throw in the remaining ingredients. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down to low and allow to simmer for at least 10 minutes.
Once the sauce has reduced down to your desired thickness, remove from heat and set aside.
3. BBQ chicken wing ingredients and instructions
Finally, it’s time to create your culinary masterpiece!
18 free-range/pastured chicken wings
BBQ rub (step 1)
BBQ sauce (step 2)
Preheat your oven to 350°F/180°C. While the oven warms up, put some baking paper down on a couple of cookie sheets. Next, apply the BBQ rub to all the wings as evenly as possible. Don’t stress too much if thing’s are a bit uneven though – you’re going to smother them in BBQ sauce, after all!
Place the wings in the oven and leave for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, turn all the wings onto their opposite side, and cook for another 10 minutes.
Remove the wings from the oven again. Coat each wing liberally with the BBQ sauce you made in step two. A silicon brush makes applying the sauce easier, but you can always just use a spoon or anything handy. Once all the wings are coated, place them back in the oven for 3 minutes.
One last time, remove the wings from the oven, turn them all onto their opposite side, and return to the oven for 3 minutes. Keep an eye on the wings – if it looks like they’re starting to blacken or burn, whip them out of there ASAP! You can also leave them in for longer if you like your wings a bit crispier or charred. I’m not judging.
If you can resist, allow the wings to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a platter. If you’ve got any BBQ sauce left, put it in a small bowl for dipping. In lieu of blue cheese, which often has some of the nastiest ingredients imaginable, why not opt for some grass-fed sour cream? It tastes just as good, in my opinion, and soothes the mouth when things get a little on the spicy side. Also feel free to throw in a few celery sticks for good measure. Enjoy!
Tell us how your wings turned out! Did you make any slight adjustments, or did those BBQ wings taste dang near perfect? We’d also love to hear what your own favorite Paleo wing recipes are!
You’ve replaced your household cleaners with non-toxic products. You use alternative health remedies. You eat whole foods, avoid refined sugars, and exercise regularly.
And yet, you still feel like something’s missing when it comes to your health…but what on earth could it be?
I’ve had many of the same thoughts myself. I feel pretty good, but why don’t I feel great?
Is it possible that one of the most unglamorous organs is behind all of your health problems?
I’m talking about your intestines. Or gut. Or digestive system. Whatever you want to call it, its function is NOT glamorous.
But here’s the thing: poor gut health isn’t pretty, especially if you’re fighting leaky gut syndrome, allergies, or fuzzy brain – all symptoms of a gut that isn’t doing what it’s designed to do.
It can already feel a bit daunting to work on healing your digestive issues, but then to spend time searching for practical solutions at a price you can afford? Forget about it.
But what if everything you need (and then some) came together in one magical package, for the most affordable price ever? Well, you’re in luck, because that’s exactly what’s happening and I’m telling you, this bundle is just what you need.
The Gut Health Super Bundle includes 16 ebooks, 5 eCourses, 3 videos, and 1 massive summit full of expert videos. One of those ebooks is our very own bestselling Paleo Guide to Beating Candida Naturally. So if you’ve been holding off on buying this essential guide to getting rid of your Candida overgrowth, now might just be the time to make your move!
These top-quality resources cover everything you need to heal your gut…tummy-soothing recipes, meal plans, quick-start guides, in-depth education, and so much more.
For less than the cost of some high-quality probiotics, you’ll get a complete library to help you:
End your digestive complaints (you know what they are)
Identify your own trigger foods and how to eat for digestibility
Discover how to make gut-healing fermented foods at home – and cheaply!
Choose the best probiotics and other supplements
Simplify your meal planning routine with gut-healing recipes and meal plans
and finally get your health back.
Plus, it comes with $40 worth of bonus offers for tummy-friendly, real food products.
You sort of need to see it to believe it, but the package includes 25 digital products and it’s worth over $695!
Besides being so incredibly helpful, one of the things I like best about the bundle is the price. By offering it for a short time only, they’re able to give you access to over $695 worth of amazing products for a whopping 93% off!
Here’s how it works:
Visit their website, take a quick look at all the goodness that comes in this package, then click the “Get my copy now!” button to go through their simple and secure 3-step checkout process.
You’ll receive an email with a login to their online access portal, where you’ll begin downloading your eBooks, signing up for your eCourses, and redeeming your free bonus offers.
Use their Getting Started Guide to pick the topic you want to tackle first and start the healing journey!
I’d hate for you to miss out, so click HERE to learn more or buy the bundle.
It’s even backed by a 100% happiness guarantee, so you can make sure it’s right for you.
No one should put up with poor digestive health because it costs too much or they can’t get the help they need.
Embracing a healthy lifestyle is an important first step. But to really experience holistic health, you need to get your digestive system back on track.
Learn more or get your bundle HERE. If you’ve got any specific questions, feel free to get in touch with us at inquiry@thriveprimal.com. I’ve already purchased the bundle myself, so I can definitely help you out!
