Is HAPPY JUICE Legit? (Honest Review)

Happy Juice is all over social media… but what is it and why is it trending?

Is it really all natural, and does it really work?

Is it really worth it??

I am skeptical by nature, especially with these “trending” things that seem too one-size-fits-all to be true…. but the reports I’ve seen from real people who have seen tangible, lasting benefits had me curious–so I jumped down the rabbit hole and researched everything I could find about “Happy Juice.”

Happy juice comes in a variety of flavors, all naturally sourced from fruit, according to the website

What is Happy Juice? 

Smiling, bubbly, picture-perfect tiktokers, IG stars and other influencers are all over social media with their brightly colored Happy Juice, raving about how naturally delicious it is and how it’s helped them ward off mental health struggles, improved mood and eliminated brain fog, helped them lose weight and improve digestion as well as given them energy and mental focus!

But is it true? 

And are the ingredients as natural as they say?

Research

When I first came across the company that makes Happy Juice, it was before Happy Juice was a product. I was interested in learning more about them because I had been researching the gut-brain communication system for years, and they have a simple protocol that addresses this connection, optimizing the communication between the gut and the brain along the vagus nerve.

Though I had been researching this connection for several years and was convinced of how powerful it is, I had yet to find a reliable protocol on the market that could restore and heal this connection, and help people heal physiologically and holistically both physically and mentally.

Read more about mental wellness and the gut-brain connection here. 

The gut-brain connection has so much potential: for mental healing, physical healing, and addressing chronic issues that have been difficult for the medical industry to effectively and reliably treat (mood, brain fog, psychiatric issues, spectrum disorders and focus, attention, behavioral and developmental problems).

I was impressed with their gut-brain connection protocol because the formulation had clean ingredients using only herbs, food and biotics, and there were thousands of people raving that they had been able to eliminate or avoid meds for issues ranging from mental to physical health, allergies and chronic illness.

Learn more about the gut-brain connection and this groundbreaking protocol here.

Results

And the more I learned about this gut-brain connection protocol, the more impressed I was. The ingredients were clean, the formulations were truly groundbreaking, and people were getting real results! I had to try it myself, and if it was really helping people, I had to work with this company.

To this day, I recommend this protocol to get to the root of all kinds of problems from depression to anxiety, brain fog, irritability, memory and focus issues (for adults and children!) and allergies! Over time, it even addresses other deep-seated issues like hormone imbalance, blood sugar regulation and auto-immune problems. That’s what happens when you address the root.

But there was one problem.

The protocol is amazing and it gets to the root of so many things! It’s essential to restoring those connections lost for so many people.

But it doesn’t taste amazing. It’s a flavorless drink and some capsules.

Just a little bit… Boring.

 

Then something amazing happened.

 

The same company came out with a new drink called Edge… it was marketed all on its own–a delicious new drink that is proven to improve mood, motivation, and metabolism.

This drink went viral–finally we had a truly clean “energy” drink, pre-workout… something that tasted great and provided truly tangible benefits. People were noticing more energy, more mental clarity, more patience with their kids! They were even losing weight and actually wanting to eat better and get more exercise. Some reported their blood sugar levels stabilizing… it seemed miraculous!

 

Happy Juice is Born

The origin story of Happy Juice is actually kind of fun.

The gut-brain axis healing protocol was helping thousands of people… but Edge tasted amazing, and people loved the Energy drink too, because it was clean, tasted great and was replacing coffee or store-bought drinks with better results.

Current customers took matters into their own hands, and started mixing everything up, and Happy Juice was born.

Happy Juice is actually the combination of 3 stand-alone products: Mentabiotics (root cause healing for the gut-brain axis), Edge (mood, motivation & metabolism) and Energy+ (energy, focus, mental clarity, hydration).

Customers found when they combined these three things, they discovered

something that not only helped them heal naturally, but made them feel good now. They dubbed it Happy Juice (customers did; not the company itself) which is so cool–so grassroots!

The company that makes these three products realized what had happened and took their lead, creating a discounted pack with these 3 products so people could get their own Happy Juice easily and affordably.

Cool story, huh?

So now that we know the back-story, let’s look at the claims and what the research says.

 

Questions? Text HAPPY to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

THE CLAIMS:

It’s delicious, it’s hydrating, it’s 100% natural.

It’s healing from the root, and feeling great NOW, all wrapped into one beautiful drink.
Happy juice is proven (in research documented on the website) to:
  • Decrease irritability by 60%
  • 55% decrease in anxiousness
  • 49% reduction in overall distress
  • 70% increase in good bacteria
  • 211% increase in positive mood
  • 105% decrease in negative mood.
If you need help with focus, mood, patience with your kids, all day sustained energy, mental clarity (bye bye brain fog!) and digestion (some people even lose weight because it balances digestion and helps to balance hormones!)
It’s a drink designed to help the gut heal, and assist with mood, focus, concentration, energy, hormone support and immune support.
Sounds too good to be true, right? But worth trying, since the company offers a 90 day money-back guarantee.
That’s 3 months to see if it works for you, with no risk. 
Questions? Text HAPPY to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Try it

So what do you think? Would you want to try a delicious drink that not only helps your body to balance and heal from the root, but that has proven, researched benefits and could help you kick that coffee or store-bought energy drink habit?
Happy Juice is delicious, hydrating, natural, clean and healthy–and it costs less than most store-bought energy drinks and coffee shop coffee-drinks.
Isn’t it time to take care of yourself?
Isn’t it time to heal?
Happy Juice is the combination of 3 products, and with the flavor options available, there is a lot of variety to choose from:

When you use the links above, you get $10 off your order AND when you choose the Grape or Watermelon varieties, you also get an ADDITIONAL Watermelon Edge for FREE, through the end of March! (You can see these discounts and freebies included in the cart links above).

If you’d rather build your cart yourself, see the links below and use coupon codes 39519 ($10 off) and HAPPYEDGE (for the free additional 30 day container of Watermelon Edge)

And remember, they offer a full 90 day guarantee for everything on their site–so it’s risk free. If you don’t like it for any reason,  just return it within 90 days for 100% money back!
Questions? Text HAPPY to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

New to Freedom & Coffee? Start here.

 

Disclosures:

Many of the product links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission from any purchase. I only recommend products that I love and this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our mission with your clicks!

Resources

Questions? Text HAPPY to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Medical Disclaimer:
Information found on the Freedom & Coffee website is created and published online for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition.
If you have questions about your health or a medical condition, please seek the guidance of your doctor or qualified health professional with. Please don’t disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
If you have a medical emergency, contact a doctor or call the emergency services immediately. If you choose to rely on any information provided by this website, it is solely at your own risk.
Under no circumstances is Freedom & Coffee responsible for the claims of third party websites or educational providers linked to from this website.

Detox, Parasites and Our Kids: What to Do

Digestive complaints

Sleep issues

Nightmares

Teeth grinding

Behavioral delays

Mood and Anger issues

Allergies

Headaches

Anxiety

Itchy at night

Frequent illness        

Food Sensitivities and Intolerance

Constipation

Non-verbal or delayed speech

These are just a few of the most common symptoms of parasites.
Have you suffered from any of these?

Have your kids?

We would do anything for our kids. So when they have unexplained health problems and a doctor can’t fix them, we feel helpless.  What do we do?

We’ve been learning about how we all have parasites.. but you may not realize that our kids have them too, and there is a lot we can (and should) do about it. People have been pro-active about parasites for as long as humans have lived, and that includes keeping their kids parasite-free!Recap: Parasites and Our Health

We’ve discussed how parasites are the root of virtually all the problems we have, and a 3 step protocol to address them. There is even a step-by-step guide to walk you through your very first parasite cleanse! (And this group for support and guidance as you go!)

But what can we do about our kids? It’s a good idea for everyone in the house to cleanse at once, but can kids do the same cleanse as an adult? And what if they can’t swallow capsules yet?

How Do Kids Get Parasites?

As we’ve discussed, there are a lot of ways we are exposed to parasites: in fact, it is inevitable. We can get parasites from food (any food-even fruits and veggies), water, dirt, pets, and other people. Parents can even pass parasites to kids at birth, and family members and pets can pass them to each other!

So now that we’ve established that all people (and pets), even kids, have parasites, and that they are causing most if not all of our health issues… what do we do about it??

Kids are Resilient

Generally speaking, children’s bodies respond more quickly and efficiently to anything we do than adult bodies do. (The younger they are, the faster they respond, it seems).

For this reason I don’t generally recommend strong anti-parasitic herbs or meds for very young children because I don’t find it’s usually necessary.

Since young children do sometimes have parasites and we do need to do something… what do we do?

Getting to the Root

As explained in the article about the 3 steps and why they are important, it’s always a little more complicated than just taking an anti-parasitic and being done forever.

Whether for adults or children, killing parasites is great, but let’s rewind and think about why the parasites were able to live there in the first place.

We all have an inner balance of good and bad bacteria that contribute (more than we realize) to our overall health. This balance is either in our favor or it’s not–either we have an abundance of “good” microbes that benefit us, or we have an over-abundance of “bad” microbes and parasites that steal our nutrients and poison us from within.

If we have an imbalance of good to bad, we will have troubling symptoms, poor health, and will not feel our best. This goes for children just as much as it goes for adults.

We have to change the environment of our bodies that is allowing parasites to thrive… and the only way to do that is to change that balance and make ourselves “bad hosts” to parasites. (Which means our bodies are strong and our immune systems can fight off anything that we are exposed to.)

Where do children get their gut microbiome? Initially, it’s all from their parents–and we can pass not only good & bad bacteria to our kids, but we can also pass along things like heavy metals, mold, and parasites.

When we realize that many of our problems stem from these parasites in our bodies and that we can pass these to our kids, it puts a little different perspective on “genetic” illnesses that “run in the family” doesn’t it?

I’m not saying genetics don’t have anything to do with it, because of course they do… but we all have damaged genes in one way or another, so why are some people ill and some people are healthy throughout their lives?

That all comes down to epigenetics… basically which genetic expression do we turn ON and which do we turn OFF?

THAT is up to us… and it’s based on the choices we make in this life: what we eat, what we do, what toxins we expose ourselves to, how we detox, and how we balance ourselves and fight parasites.

It’s always possible to heal, but the sooner in life we do that the better–so get your kids on this path now!

So what do I recommend?

For most kids under 10, I’d recommend just root cause healing: half of the step 1 reboot and the kids step 3. Because they respond so much more quickly than we do, for most kids this will be enough to push out any parasites they are dealing with and rebalance their bodies going forward so they are less susceptible to them in the future, even when exposed.

This is the best way because it strengthens our bodies, balances our microbiomes, and makes our immune systems a fortress that is not easy for pathogens to penetrate.

And it works! Here are some stories that prove it. 

Got Questions? Text KIDS to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Step 1 is very gentle, but for kids under 10 I recommend giving them half the recommended dose (one capsule at each time designated on the schedule in the package). The capsules can be opened and put into a drink or food if the child doesn’t swallow capsules. For children over 10, a full step 1 reboot is great (2 capsules at each time designated). If the child is particularly small or large for the age, you can make a decision of whether to give half or a whole step 1 reboot (save the other half for next time, or you can split one step 1 reboot between 2 kids). Regardless, the herbs are safe for all ages, and even for pregnancy and breastfeeding. See the ingredients here (scroll down).

If you want to get the 2-step kids protocol, I’ve put it here in a cart and included $10 off: Click here.

Got Questions? Text KIDS to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Is it Safe for Kids?

When I am concerned with the safety of a food, herb or remedy the first thing I do is look at how it has been used traditionally.

For example, castor oil has been given to kids 1-2 times a year traditionally to ward off parasites. Other foods like pumpkin seeds, oregano, clove, and black walnuts are also great because they are food we eat anyway and can help ward off the critters.

The kids step 3 has been specifically formulated for kids so you can rest assured that all ingredients are thoroughly researched and known as safe for kids: and they are all made from actual food ingredients as well.

Got Questions? Text KIDS to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

What About Moms Who are Pregnant or Breastfeeding? 

I am constantly asked what moms can do if they are pregnant or breastfeeding but want to start healing without endangering their babies. Most think they just have to wait until they are past this season of life… but it’s not true! There are things you can safely do now to start healing which are very effective and safe for both pregnancy and breastfeeding. Not only that–it may actually help your baby to heal indirectly!

My friend Aleesha came to me recently because she was suffering. She has been diagnosed with lyme and has debilitating symptoms like pain, inflammation, brain fog and low energy she deals with every day as a result. Since she is currently breastfeeding her son, I advised she do just Step 1 & Step 3 of the 3 step protocol, because step 2 is what actively targets the parasites and can cause some die off toxins to enter the bloodstream, which she didn’t want to expose her son to.

She started feeling a difference just in the first 2 days of this protocol, and now she’s on her 3rd month of root cause healing and she has been feeling so good she no longer needs to take the daily homeopathics she was using to give her relief from her symptoms! She actually forgets to take them because she’s feeling so good!

Is There Anyone Who Should NOT Do a Parasite Cleanse? 

Since we know we all have parasites and they might be causing all of our problems, I believe everyone should be addressing parasites in some way. There are, however, circumstances and seasons of life when you want to be careful. As in the above examples, when a child is very young, or a mom is pregnant or breastfeeding, I don’t recommend doing step 2, but step 1 and 3 can be done safely.

The only other situation when I would advise caution is with someone who is in such a precarious health situation that almost anything could set them off (close to kidney failure or with stage 4 cancer, for examples). If you think you fit this category, please reach out to me via text and I can discuss your situation and may be able to provide insight and suggestions. Watch this video for more of my thoughts on this topic. 

To discuss your situation or ask questions, text me at ‪(802) 227-7051‬

New to Freedom & Coffee? Start here.

 

Disclosures:

Many of the product links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission from any purchase. I only recommend products that I love and this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our mission with your clicks!

Resources

Get the Kids Crush Parasites Pack with a discount!

Why Should I be Worried About Parasites?

The 3 Steps to a Comprehensive, Sustainable, Healing Cleanse

Step-by-Step Guide to Your Very First Cleanse (gentle & effective!)

Facebook group where we learn & heal together–request to join!

Step 1 Reboot ingredients

Kids Step 3 Ingredients

Real Stories of Kids Healing

 

Medical Disclaimer:
Information found on the Freedom & Coffee website is created and published online for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition.
If you have questions about your health or a medical condition, please seek the guidance of your doctor or qualified health professional with. Please don’t disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
If you have a medical emergency, contact a doctor or call the emergency services immediately. If you choose to rely on any information provided by this website, it is solely at your own risk.
Under no circumstances is Freedom & Coffee responsible for the claims of third party websites or educational providers linked to from this website.

Ready to Eliminate Parasites!? Beginner’s Guide: Exactly What to Do (Step by Step)

If you have been looking into parasites you know that they are probably causing the physical and mental health issues you are experiencing.

You may be ready to address parasites in your life and heal, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed–there is so much information, some of it contradictory, and it’s hard to know exactly what to do, how, when, and in what amounts.

START HERE

If it’s your first time doing a parasite cleanse, you may be intimidated, scared or overwhelmed.

Don’t be afraid! It’s very simple and straightforward and soon you will be a pro and as your symptoms improve you will gain confidence. You may even be able to help others start their own healing journeys. (I’d love for you to invite people here when they are ready to get started).

When we start something new it can be scary, but all you have to do is take the first step, then the next step and then the next. Before long you are further down the path than you could have imagined!

Are you ready? Take a deep breath, and let’s go!

Gathering Supplies

Before you can begin, you need to get all of your supplies.

Below is listed exactly what you need to buy for the 3 steps (for an explanation of the 3 steps and why all 3 are crucial, read this).

Got questions or need community? Join the group! 

STEP 1

Step 1 is vital: you must prep your body and open your detox pathways BEFORE you start killing parasites. If you don’t, you will likely get sick from die off reactions because the toxins and parasites cannot leave your body fast enough.

Trust me: don’t skip Step 1. 

Step 1 is a 3 day “gut reBoot” that consists of encapsulated herbs and a restricted diet for 3 days. This reboot is remarkably effective at opening your detox pathways, sealing leaks in the gut and supporting your liver and kidneys in just 3 days. Make sure you do it right (including the restricted diet!) for best results. Detailed instructions and a schedule for taking the encapsulated herbs is inside of the package.

BONUS: Get $10 off Step 1 and Step 3 when you order through the link I post here.

Got questions or need community? Join the group! 

Scroll down to see step-by-step instructions

Step 2

Step 2 is the anti-parasitics. There are many to choose from, but for your first cleanse, these are the ones you will get:

<– Click to order these on Amazon for Step 2

Additionally you will need binders. Binders are what will prevent ill symptoms like headache, nausea, etc. You can take binders throughout the day and before bed at night. If you feel symptoms coming on, take your binders! Binders will be your best friend.

The binders i recommend for your first cleanse are:

Get everything you need for step 2 at once here on amazon.

Either of these can alternatively be purchased in powder form and added to any liquid if you prefer that. (Mix and match your own items here).

Got questions or need community? Join the group! 

Scroll down to see step-by-step instructions

Step 3

All 3 steps are important but if I had to pick the MOST important step, it’s step 3.

Why? Because if you do step 3 long enough it can accomplish the other 2 steps on its own just by balancing and healing your body from the root. But we all want to heal as quickly and easily as we can, right? So let’s do all 3 steps.

Step 3 is vital because you’ve just done all of this hard work to eliminate parasites, and if you skip step 3 they can grow right back

Why? Because you never addressed the reason they were there to begin with! You have to HEAL from the root and change the environment of your body so you are not a good host for parasites. This will strengthen your immune system and make your body inhospitable to parasites–preventing future attack. Who doesn’t want that?

If you know what’s good for you, do NOT skip step 3. 

Get Step 1 & 3 together here, and get an additional $10 off coupon!

Got questions or need community? Join the group! 

Scroll down to see step-by-step instructions

Doing Your First Parasite Cleanse: Step by Step

Okay, now that you’ve ordered all your supplies, you are almost ready to begin!

  1. Once you receive everything in the mail, lay it all out by step, so you can easily see what you are going to do.
  2. Next, open up the package for the reBoot and look through the instructions and schedule.
  3. Then, calculate the day you need to start step 1 (Look up the next full moon; you will start step 1 exactly 6 days before that). Write this date down and make sure you have groceries and a plan ready to start the reBoot on that day.
  4. Empty your bottle of castor oil capsules into a ziploc bag and spread them out into a thin layer, then place them in the back of your freezer. You will need about a week for them to freeze solid, so ensure you receive them at least a week before the upcoming full moon.
  5. When the day to start the reBoot comes, make sure you follow the reBoot diet all 3 days and take the encapsulated herbs on the schedule provided. Avoid the foods on the “avoid” list for these 3 days as best you can–the better you follow the reBoot approved diet, the better results you should get.
  6. Once you have completed the 3 day reBoot, wake up on the 4th day and take 3-4 frozen castor oil capsules about an hour before you eat any food. Only drink enough water to get the capsules fully down (too much water can melt them too fast before they get where they are going).
  7. At night before bed, put 1/2 teaspoon of diatomaceous earth in a large glass of water. Stir and drink the entire glass.
  8. Throughout each day of the cleanse take chlorella 3-4 times.
  9. Snack on the pumpkin seeds throughout the day during your cleanse.
  10. At night just before sleeping, take one serving of activated charcoal. Additionally, if you start to feel any negative symptoms during the day, take another serving of activated charcoal and you should feel better. (Activated charcoal is a powerful binder, so if you are taking any pharmaceutical meds, separate those from activated charcoal by at least 2 hours).
  11. Continue the frozen castor oil cleanse for 7 days straight. This should center on the full moon (starting 3 days before through 3 days after that day).
  12. After you have completed the 7 days of step 2, begin step 3 by taking one purple capsule of GBX fit before eating, 2 capsules of Restore with your first meal, and 2 capsules of GBX Burn with your biggest meal of the day. I recommend continuing step 3 for 3 months.

Got questions or need community? Join the group! 

Congratulations! You’ve completed your first parasite cleanse! I’d love to hear about your results. Please come post all of your results in the group The Truth About Parasites: How We Heal, from symptom improvements to pictures of anything you’ve passed during the cleanse.

Now What?

After 3 months, it’s a good time to do another parasite cleanse. This time you can use different anti-parasitics, and rotate, mix and match anti-parasitics every time from now on, doing 3-4 cleanses per year to maintain your results and your health.

Read this article for a list of other anti-parasitics you can use, with links of where to get them (most of them are on Amazon, and how to use each one.

If you’d like to see the results others have gotten or just need support, please join the group here, where we learn and heal together. 

New to Freedom & Coffee? Start here.

Disclosure:

Many of the product links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission from any purchase. I only recommend products that I love and this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our mission with your clicks!

Resources

What Are the 3 Steps and Why Do I Need Them?

Get Step 1 + Step 3 Here with $10 off Included

Get Your Step 2 Items on Amazon (also listed individually above)

Got questions or need community? Join the group! 

3 Step Full Moon Parasite Cleanse Protocol 

Find my TikTok Channel: The Truth About Parasites: Here 

Find My YouTube Channel Here 

Learn, See Others’ Results, and Heal Together!

 

 

Medical Disclaimer:
Information found on the Freedom & Coffee website is created and published online for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition.
If you have questions about your health or a medical condition, please seek the guidance of your doctor or qualified health professional with. Please don’t disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
If you have a medical emergency, contact a doctor or call the emergency services immediately. If you choose to rely on any information provided by this website, it is solely at your own risk.
Under no circumstances is Freedom & Coffee responsible for the claims of third party websites or educational providers linked to from this website.

Do I Have a Parasite? 3 Steps to Flush Them for GOOD

If you have any unexplained health problems, you may have considered (or been told by a doctor) that a parasite could be to blame.

Indeed, after much research I have come to conclude that parasites are probably at the root of most (if not all) of the health problems we deal with.

Denial

If you live in America, or any other first world country, you may scoff at this idea.

Many people think, “I don’t have a parasite. I am clean and I live in America.”

Not so fast.

It is well-established that everyone is exposed to parasites. Many people think that traveling out of the country is the only way to get them, but parasites know no borders.

We can’t live in denial. We all have them.

No matter how clean you are, and no matter how good your diet is… we are all exposed to parasites in many facets of our lives.

We can get parasites from:

  • Food (especially anything raw or undercooked, but even well-cooked food can expose us!)
  • Water (water treatment can’t get them all)
  • Walking around barefoot or touching dirt
  • Proximity to or contact with pets or other animals
  • Intimate contact with other people
  • Insect bites
  • Touching everyday surfaces
  • Even in the air we breathe!

Of course we should all take appropriate precautions to avoid exposure as much as we can.

Cooking food well, avoiding foods that are notorious for parasites, washing our hands and drinking high quality filtered water are things we should all be doing.

However we also have to face the fact that EVERYONE has parasites.

The sooner we accept that as fact and do something about it, the better.

 

And there are many things we can do.

The Reality

If you have any health issues at all, I urge you to consider the fact that the health of our gut and its communication with the brain is the root of everything… (I talk more about that here). 

…and that when the gut micro-biome is imbalanced, it opens the doors to parasites: including pathogens, bacteria, intestinal worms, mold, and other overgrowths that cause many symptoms. 

This can lead to “holes” or permeability in our gut lining (sometimes called “leaky gut“) which can then cause autoimmune issues, chronic illness, unexplained health problems, food allergies and sensitivity, brain fog and even mental illness and intrusive thoughts.

Doctors may or may not have answers. Tests may or may not come back conclusive for a disorder or diagnosis.

Regardless, parasites are almost inevitably the root of your issues.

That may sound scary, but the good news is: there are a lot of easy, effective, inexpensive natural things we can do about it.

I host a group on Facebook where we do monthly parasite cleanses together. If you want to join in or just learn more, please join us or follow along here.

I have put together a simple 3-step protocol to eliminate parasites and heal, for GOOD.

My 3 Step Full Moon Protocol

(Read below for the reasons why I always do parasite cleanses during the full moon)

Step 1: Clear detox pathways (liver, kidneys, gut)

A parasite cleanse is a big detox. When you do this your body will push out waste, toxins, mucus and parasites. You want this process to be as quick and efficient as possible.

If your liver or kidneys are clogged, things may get backed up and this can make the process very unpleasant for you (anything from a headache to nausea to flu-like symptoms)

Opening your detox pathways is so important before any detox, but especially before a parasite cleanse. Please don’t skip this step. You will thank yourself later for taking the time and effort.

The 3-day gut reboot I recommend for step 1 is gentle, effective, affordable and only 3 days! You do NOT want to skip step 1!

Step 2: The Parasite Cleanse

This is the fun part: targeting and eliminating parasites. The full moon is the best time to do this (see below why) so you have an opportunity every month. I do one  about once a quarter.

I have put together an amazon store of all the anti-parasitic ingredients I have used in my parasite cleanses. I have also been doing a series on each ingredient, what it is, what it does and how I use it. This series can be found in my group The Truth About Parasites: How We Heal (click to join the group!) and on my TikTok and YouTube channels.

Step 3: Maintain (IMPORTANT)

You may think, ok great, once they’re gone they’re gone, right? One & done–I’m set for life!

Not quite.

Remember I mentioned we are constantly exposed to parasites? And that they lay eggs?

There are many types of parasites. So the anti-parasitic you use for your parasite this cleanse may not get all of them (or all of the types of them) that you need to address.

This brings us to the most important part: maintenance.

Maintenance may seem like not a big deal, but it’s everything.

We don’t want all the hard work we’ve done eliminating parasites to go to waste… and if we don’t maintain, they will grow back even faster than we can kill them.

So what is maintenance? 

It’s changing the entire ecosystem of your body…

…and that begins in the gut microbiome.

By changing the ecosystem of your body (beginning with the health and balance of your gut) you can make your body inhospitable to parasites. That means they can’t easily live or thrive inside of your body… and that is the goal.

How do I change my body’s ecosystem?

This isn’t just one thing: we have to be pro-active with our health. Diet is foundational, so eating as many whole, organic, unprocessed foods as possible and as few sugars, processed foods, junk foods and CAFO meats as possible is one of the best ways to keep parasites from thriving in your body’s ecosystem and promote good overall health for life.

Moving your body regularly increases blood flow and assists with detoxification.  I’m not talking about hard, strenuous exercises in the gym for hours every day. Just move your body! Go outside and take a walk, go on a bike ride around the neighborhood, or do a quick 10 minute exercise inside. Any movement counts, and…

Something is always better than nothing!

In this day and age, with all of the contaminants in our food and depletion of our soils, unfortunately diet can’t be enough for most of us to maintain optimal health and keep the parasites away for good.

My Step 3 Maintenance Protocol helps people easily and effectively maintain a good microbiome balance so we can fight  off parasites, pathogens and bacteria that would harm us in any form–and it keeps me from getting sick throughout the year too because our gut microbiome is at least 90% of our immune system!

I appreciate the company that created the Step 1 and Step 3 because they offer a money-back guarantee for a full year. That’s confidence, and it tells me these products work for pretty much everyone. But if they don’t, you can just return them (all of them). For a full year!

Give your body all the tools it needs to fight off anything that comes your way, from pathogens to viruses to bacteria to parasites. You’ll thank yourself later. 

If it’s your first time doing a parasite cleanse, click here for step-by-step instructions so you know exactly what to do! ‬

You may have one more question…

Why the Full Moon?

I only do parasite cleanses over the full moon. Why? Because that’s when it’s most effective. If I’m going to go to the effort to do a cleanse I want it to be as thorough and effective as possible.

Parasites have hormones that prompt them to migrate from wherever in our bodies they are to the intestinal tract during the full moon (this is also triggered by our internal levels of serotonin and melatonin during the full moon time). While they are there they lay eggs.

There are several reasons cleansing during the full moon is most effective:

  1. They are all in one spot: the intestinal tract. So anything we take will hit them directly (during other times of the month they could be almost anywhere in our bodies).
  2. They are more vulnerable because they have focused their efforts on procreating and laying eggs, not hiding themselves and avoiding detection or efforts to eliminate them.
  3. If I start before the full moon, I can potentially flush them out before they lay their eggs–so I don’t have to worry about as many babies later. 

The good news is we have a full moon every month–so every month we have an opportunity to cleanse!

Does that mean we cleanse every month? Probably not. But if we know this and keep it in mind we can be aware of how parasites are affecting our physical and mental health during the full moon and we can eat snacks and take supplements that keep them at bay.

If it’s your first time doing a parasite cleanse, click here for step-by-step instructions so you know exactly what to do! ‬

Here is a quick list of parasite cleanse ingredients (find them in this amazon store) I use regularly. I will link them to explanations I have done on why and how I use them:

A Note About TikTok….

Are you on TikTok®? Recently I’ve been having a great time on the “education side” of TikTok, and i read recently that TikTok® has surpassed Google® as a search engine! Can you believe it?

That said, Tiktok® has it’s drawbacks and dangers as with any media platform, but I have learned a lot on TikTok® and it’s quickly becoming my favorite educational platform!

I have been sharing knowledge, tips and resources about how to heal naturally with a parasite cleanse on TikTok lately on my channel @thetruthaboutparasites so I’d love to see you if you are inclined!

If it’s your first time doing a parasite cleanse, click here for step-by-step instructions so you know exactly what to do! ‬

New to Freedom & Coffee? Start here.

Disclosure:

Many of the product links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission from any purchase. I only recommend products that I love and this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our mission with your clicks!

More Resources

The Gut Microbiome (& axis with brain) is the Root of Our Health

Check out the Group Parasite Cleanses or Join in Here

3 Step Full Moon Parasite Cleanse Protocol 

Step 1: The Gut Reboot

Step 2: The Parasite Cleanse (Amazon store) 

Step 1 + Step 3: Maintain to Keep Them Away

Find my TikTok Channel: The Truth About Parasites: Here 

Find My YouTube Channel Here 

If it’s your first time doing a parasite cleanse, click here for step-by-step instructions so you know exactly what to do! ‬

 

Heal Cavities in 3 Easy Steps

I was raised by hippies.

At least when I was born they were hippies.

They didn’t let me have any type of sugar until after I was 5 years old, and the only sugar in our house was in the ketchup (my dad loves ketchup on everything).

They drove to the local farm for raw milk before it was cool.

My earliest memories are with my mom, walking into the local health food store. They had individually-wrapped carob sticks that were the closest thing I ever had to chocolate before I started school.

So I suppose you could say my teeth (and my health) got off to a pretty good start.

(Ironically my mom later became the manager of a candy store in the mall and I worked there in high school… but that’s another story).

Even growing up in such a natural, sugar-free environment, however, I still had a very mainstream view of teeth and cavities: The only way to fight cavities and keep your mouth healthy was to prevent them: eat less sugar and brush your teeth with modern toothpaste twice a day, and rinse with a drugstore mouthwash to kill all the germs.

Once you get a cavity the only thing you can do is go to the dentist, get it drilled out and filled with metals or ceramic (at least I knew better than to get mercury).

Oh, and fluoride is amazing for dental health.

(!)

Get the scoop on fluoride here.

I had a lot to learn.

Most dentists will still tell you these things, and laugh if you ask how to actually heal cavities, so imagine my shock when I learned that not only is healing cavities possible, it’s actually pretty EASY.

Questions? Text TEETH to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

3 STEPS TO HEAL CAVITIES AND REMINERALIZE YOUR TEETH

1. Oil pulling

2. Remineralizing toothpaste

3. Deep Nutrition

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an oral health practice that originated in India, and it’s one of the best things you can do not only for oral health but for the health of your whole body.

Simply put, oil pulling is swishing oil in your mouth for 5-20 minutes at a time.

That may sound strange, but the benefits of oil pulling can’t be understated.

Oil pulling not only kills “bad” bacteria in the mouth and improves pH, it actively draws toxins out of other parts of your body, including your sinuses, your brain, your organs and other areas.

I find if I feel a sinus issue arising, a good oil-pulling session will usually knock it right out.

Oil pulling is also believed to draw chemicals, toxins, free radicals and even heavy metals out of the body.

Oh, and it kills the bacteria that cause cavities, so you can heal them.

How to Oil Pull

In India Sesame Oil is generally used, but I always use Coconut Oil. Both have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.

Step 1: One spoonful of oil

Put a spoonful of your chosen oil in your mouth before you eat anything in the morning. Depending on the size of your mouth, you will want between a teaspoon and a tablespoon of oil (don’t worry; you won’t be swallowing it).

Step 2: Start Swishing

Swish the oil all around your mouth for at least 5 minutes, up to 20 minutes (you will probably have to work up to that).

Sometimes I put oil in my mouth before I hop in the shower so I don’t have to worry about talking or trying to eat something for the next few minutes. Try to swish as forcefully as you can: getting between your teeth if possible. The longer you swish, the “thinner” the oil will feel, until it just feels like water.

Step 3: Spit in the TRASH

Do not spit this in the sink and do NOT swallow the oil.

The oil is now full of toxins, chemicals, and possibly even metals from your teeth or other parts of your body. (The oil can clog the drain so always spit in a trash can).

Step 4: Brush your teeth

The oil pulling process draws toxins out of your mouth and from between your teeth, but it also pulls toxins from other parts of your body. After spitting the oil in the trash, be sure to brush your teeth to eliminate any residual toxins left in your mouth from the process.

Questions? Text TEETH to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Remineralizing Toothpaste

If you think drugstore toothpaste is the healthiest option for your teeth, you are not alone.

But mainstream toothpaste is one of the worst things you can use. It’s full of toxins, chemicals, antibiotic agents and other harmful ingredients (not to mention fluoride), and putting these things in your mouth is one of the fastest ways to get them in your bloodstream.

The toothpaste you use matters, particularly when you are trying to heal cavities and remineralize your teeth.

How do I know which toothpaste to use?

In order to remineralize your teeth, the toothpaste needs to contain minerals.

Look for a clay-based toothpaste or tooth powder that does not contain glycerin.

Glycerin coats the teeth and the idea is to protect your teeth as you eat… but it also prevents remineralization.

My favorite remineralizing toothpastes are Earthpaste and My Magic Mud, but there are a variety of options.

Questions? Text TEETH to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Nutrient-Dense Foods

Whenever you seek to heal from the inside-out, diet is of supreme importance.

The only way to fully heal your teeth is to make sure you are eating nutrient-dense food.

What is nutrient-dense food?

Most holistic dentists recommend Cod Liver Oil as the most nutrient-dense supplement you can take to increase nutrition and heal your teeth (and your body) from the inside out.

Other options are to add organ meats (get pastured or organic whenever possible) to your diet as well as a large variety of organic fruits and vegetables.

And PLEASE cut out sugar as much as you possibly can.

Most people struggle with sugar addiction.

Learn how to break that here.

Make Your Own Mouthwash

Drugstore mouthwashes are full of undesirable ingredients, including chemicals and antibacterial agents to kill everything in your mouth.

But like every other part of our bodies, the mouth has a microbiome, which can include both “good” and “bad” bacteria.

The food we eat feeds either the good or the bad, and as a result our mouths can be in balance or out of balance.

When the bad bacteria (fed by sugar and processed food) is overgrown, we end up with issues like bad breath, a white coating on our tongues, cavities and other issues.

(And just in case you think the mouth microbiome is completely distinct from the gut microbiome and the rest of the body, newsflash: everything is connected and each part of our body (and the balance therein) affects every other part).

Read more about the microbiome and how important it is here. 

It’s basically impossible to have a healthy, balanced microbiome in one part of the body while having an unhealthy, imbalanced microbiome in another part.

When you heal one it contributes to the healing of all.

It makes sense, because everything we put into our mouths ends up in our digestive tract, so really healing for one is healing for both.

Questions? Text TEETH to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Our goal when cleaning our mouths (with toothpaste or mouthwash) should be balance and increasing the populations of good bacteria.

We should try to always feed the good and starve the bad (because the “bad” are opportunistic and will overgrow and cause disease whenever possible… our “modern” diets of processed, chemical-laden, sugar-full food does not help us here).

It’s of utmost importance to eat the best, highest quality whole food we can most of the time. These days it’s impossible to have the perfect diet, but when you consider everything we eat on a daily basis, it starts to make sense that what we are eating is really impacting our oral (and overall) health in big ways.

We all have times when we can’t help but eat something that isn’t ideal… at birthday or holiday parties, when we go out to eat with friends or when we’re a guest at someone’s home.

Questions? Text TEETH to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

What I try to keep in mind in these situations is that it’s an occasional treat and the relationship is more important than being strict with what I eat. If I can keep myself on track most of the time (when I’m at home and on my own) then these occasional indulgences will happen and I don’t need to stress out about it.

What Do I Eat for Optimal Oral Health?

The advice is always the same: what is good for overall health and gut health is also good for oral health. (That keeps it simple, right?)

Here are some general guidelines for optimal oral health. Most of the time, try to eat foods that are:

  • Free of added sugars
  • Unprocessed (whole foods)
  • Not sugary drinks
  • Organic whenever possible
  • Fermented (like sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha…)
  • RAW milk/dairy

As you probably know, our modern industrial diet lacks the nutrients it used to have. Depletion of the soil, fertilizers and other farming conditions have resulted in foods that just aren’t giving us everything we need any more, so unfortunately supplementation is necessary in this day and age to prevent nutrient deficiencies and keep us as healthy as possible.

Supplements can be dizzying, however. There are so many options! 

Which ones are best?

How do I know if I’m absorbing them?

What do I look for on the label? 

 These are important questions, and it can be so confusing! For more information on what to look for and to see what I take, check out this article about which supplements to take and how to decide. 

Questions? Text TEETH to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

 

New to Freedom & Coffee? Start here.

 

Disclosures:

Many of the product links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission from any purchase. I only recommend products that I love and this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our mission with your clicks!

More Resources

To Fluoride or Not to Fluoride??

Learn More About the Gut Microbiome and How it Affects EVERYTHING

Which Vitamins Should I Take? Is there a Difference?

 

 

Medical Disclaimer:
Information found on the Freedom & Coffee website is created and published online for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition.
If you have questions about your health or a medical condition, please seek the guidance of your doctor or qualified health professional with. Please don’t disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
If you have a medical emergency, contact a doctor or call the emergency services immediately. If you choose to rely on any information provided by this website, it is solely at your own risk.
Under no circumstances is Freedom & Coffee responsible for the claims of third party websites or educational providers linked to from this website.

Want Clear Skin for GOOD? Heal From the ROOT!

Clear, glowing skin is a sign of health. 

People with great skin are beautiful… They just look healthy. 

Why is that? 

Because skin is the most obvious indicator of what is going on inside of our bodies. We can literally see someone’s health based on their skin. 

Why do you think makeup is a billion-dollar industry? 

We are trying to look healthy… without doing the work to actually be healthy. 

But how do we heal from the inside so we can have glowing, beautiful skin on the outside? 

My goal has always been to achieve healing from the root so I wouldn’t need things like weight loss products, expensive skincare routines or makeup. 

To me, investing in my health is a better use of my money and it achieves so many more benefits!

…because most makeup is actually toxic as well… it clogs the skin and exacerbates the problem that it’s supposed to cover up. 

Why not focus on the root cause? 

Why not have health and beauty from the inside-out, so you don’t even need makeup? 

Some people love makeup and will wear it regardless, which is totally fine. But if you are wearing makeup to HIDE your skin… let’s talk for a minute. 

Wouldn’t it be great to have beautiful, glowing skin when you wake up in the morning? 

Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t HAVE to wear makeup? 

Wouldn’t it be great to have the confidence to truly be yourself wherever you go? 

Want to chat? Text SKIN to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Where Do Skin Problems Stem From? 

Problem skin can include: 

  • Acne (including adult cystic acne or hormonal acne) 
  • Eczema or other rashes
  • Keratosis pilaris
  • Rosacea
  • Psoriasis and Dermatitis
  • Allergic reactions from products or food
  • Skin discoloration 
  • Sensitivity to sunshine

You may be surprised to learn that skin problems, no matter how they manifest themselves, are rooted in 

GUT HEALTH

That’s right: there is a gut-skin connection. And if you haven’t healed your gut, you may find it impossible to resolve skin issues. 

These issues don’t come from the surface of our skin, so why do we always look to topical treatments or lotions to fix them? 

They come from inside of us, so we have to fix THAT to get to the root of the issue. 

Don’t believe me? 

Think about your digestive health. 

Do you have any indications that there may be something amiss? 

Any and all of the above stem from an imbalance in the gut microbiota. 

If you suffer from skin issues, that is a SIGN–a symptom of a deeper underlying issue. 

The only way to truly fix your skin is to heal that underlying issue. 

And that always starts with improving gut health and balance. 

Want to chat? Text SKIN to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Meet Sarah

Click to follow Sarah’s Journey

My friend Sarah is amazing. She is fit, healthy and vibrant. 

She has a great diet and is always studying and learning about food as medicine. 

But she had a problem with her skin. Adult cystic acne was plaguing her and she couldn’t figure out how to fix it. 

I met Sarah because she was interested in healing her son who had signs of ADHD and behavioral issues. He wasn’t happy and she wanted her joyful child back. 

She was studying about the gut-brain connection and wanted to try this protocol for her son. 

Little did she know that trying this protocol for herself would heal her skin from the inside out. 

She didn’t expect it. 

But she’s not complaining. 

Read More Stories of Root Cause Healing 

Incidentally, she has found her sweet, joyful boy again. Healing their gut-brain connection has changed everything for their family. 

Read more here about that here. 

And one more thing: Sarah’s son also had Keratosis pilaris… the tiny hard bumps on his skin behind his arms and on his back. After a few months of this gut-brain axis healing protocol, she was shocked to realize his keratosis pilaris had resolved as well–his skin is smooth! 

Watch her talk about that little unexpected benefit here. 

Want to chat? Text SKIN to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Gut health truly is the root of EVERYTHING. 

If you have skin issues (or any of the issues mentioned above), improving gut health is something you should absolutely explore. 

The gut-brain axis healing protocol I recommended to Sarah is the best way to improve gut health that I have found. 

Here are a couple more people who experienced the same skin benefits from healing from the root (each about 6 months from the “before” to the “after.”)

 

Read More Stories of Root Cause Healing 

I have tried dozens of probiotics, protocols and diets, including fermenting my own foods at home, and nothing has been as effective for resolving a variety of issues from the root, from skin problems to thyroid numbers to blood sugar and hormonal balance… as this protocol

HEAL FROM THE ROOT NOW

I love that they have a pack specifically designed for children as well, which addresses the specific needs of growing bodies. 

And this protocol is worth trying because they have the best money-back guarantee I’ve ever seen. 

Read more about the gut-brain connection: the FOUNDATION!

You can try this protocol for A YEAR and return the empty bottles if it doesn’t help you. 

Have you ever seen a guarantee like that? 

It’s literally guaranteed to help you. 

Read More Stories of Root Cause Healing 

I also love that it’s super easy: just drink one thing and take 4 capsules once a day in the morning to change your life. 

Why not heal from the root? 

Do it today. 

Want to chat? Text SKIN to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

New to Freedom & Coffee? Start here.

 

Disclosures:

Many of the product links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission from any purchase. I only recommend products that I love and this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our mission with your clicks!

Resources for Further Study: 

Improve Gut Health and Heal from the Root NOW

Gut Healing for Kids!

Heal Your Gut and Your Gut Will Heal You

Sarah’s Skin Journey: She Healed Her Gut! 

How to Beat Allergies Naturally 

Got Parasites? How to Kick them to the Curb so they Never Come Back

The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Improve Mental Health Naturally, from the Root

The gut-skin connection: the Science

More about the Gut-Skin connection

 

Medical Disclaimer:
Information found on the Freedom & Coffee website is created and published online for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition.
If you have questions about your health or a medical condition, please seek the guidance of your doctor or qualified health professional with. Please don’t disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
If you have a medical emergency, contact a doctor or call the emergency services immediately. If you choose to rely on any information provided by this website, it is solely at your own risk.
Under no circumstances is Freedom & Coffee responsible for the claims of third party websites or educational providers linked to from this website.

How I REBOOT My Gut and Kill Parasites

Parasites?

Ew.

“I live in America. I don’t have parasites.” 

How would I get parasites? 

Unfortunately, we all have parasites.

From the tiny “bad” bacteria in our gut microbiome to liver flukes and intestinal worms… every human being has them to one extent or another.

And honestly, from the research I’ve seen and all the things I’ve read… parasites may be responsible for virtually all of the health problems we experience.

Insomnia?

Parasites

Grinding your teeth?

Parasites

Depression or Anxiety

Parasites

Anger Issues? 

Parasites

Brain Fog? 

Parasites

Reflux? 

Parasites

IBS?

Parasites

The dreaded “C” word? 

There’s evidence even this is a parasite issue. 

Unfortunately we all have parasites. We can’t hide from it. So let’s face it and deal with it.

Questions? Text “Bad bugs” to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

And what about Covid-19? Interestingly, the drugs that have been found most effective in preventing and combatting Covid-19 are anti-parasitic drugs….

Based on all of the research coming out over the last decade, the health and balance of our gut microbiome is everything.

Our guts (and the health of our guts) determine the overall health of our bodies and our minds.

It is even said that 85-95% of our immune system resides… in our guts.

This has been backed up by the research I’ve seen coming out every day about healing the gut. By improving gut health you can…

Tackle parasites head-on and you won’t regret it.

…and more.

The health of our gut microbiome is the root of everything.

One doctor I follow said “Heal your gut and your gut will heal you.

Parasites

So what’s the deal with parasites and how do they tie into gut health?

Since parasites are generally defined as any organism in our body that harms us (they eat our food and secrete toxins into our bloodstream) they come in all shapes and sizes, and can get into our bodies in a variety of ways: through the skin, through food or water, or from contact with animals or other people.

Questions? Text “Bad bugs” to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

The parasites inside of us aren’t this cute…

Parasites thrive off of the food we eat and give us nothing beneficial in return. They can starve us of nutrients (causing nutrient deficiencies of all kinds) and poison us from within. They can get into our organs and under our skin and even into our brain, and eventually they can kill us.

Parasites and poor gut health go hand in hand, because parasites thrive in an unhealthy body.

For this reason, improving gut health will automatically make us less susceptible to parasite infestation. Another great reason to improve gut health!

How do I know if I have parasites?

While we all have parasites, everyone has different ones, and to a different degree. If you have any of the following symptoms, there is a very good chance you have parasites and should deal with them to resolve these issues (and to prevent more problems):

  • Constipation
  • Skin rashes or itchy skin
  • Brain fog
  • Teeth clenching or grinding at night (resulting in tension headaches)
  • Bloating and/or gas
  • Digestive problems
  • Stomach pain
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Chronic nausea
  • Other unexplained issues or problems

If I want to heal my gut do I need to kill parasites first?

Killing parasites can be a tricky business.

First of all, parasites are really good at hiding and avoiding our attempts to kill them. They can hide a lot of places: first of all our intestines, but they can really go anywhere in our bodies.

Second, when you take drugs or herbs to kill parasites, they get very angry. When they are being attacked they start spewing poison into our bodies, which makes us want to stop what we are doing. This is called a Herxheimer reaction, and can range from congestion to severe flu-like symptoms to (very rarely and only in very extreme cases) death. I’m not trying to scare you, but it’s important to understand the worst that could happen and learn how to prepare properly for a parasite cleanse.

Third, even if you kill parasites and eliminate them first, it’s important to improve gut health at the same time or directly afterwards, because good gut balance and health creates an inhospitable environment for parasites and bad bacteria. That will not only prevent future parasites from growing, it will help expel any current parasites that your cleanse doesn’t fully remove.

Questions? Text “Bad bugs” to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Good bacteria (unlike parasites), eat the things we don’t eat (fiber) and secrete beneficial substances like vitamins, enzymes and nutrients that our bodies can use. The more of these “good guys” we have, the healthier we are, and the fewer parasites can survive in our bodies.

How do I kill parasites safely?

In my opinion, the safest way to kill parasites is to take a pro-active approach: improve gut health by making better dietary choices and finding a great gut healing protocol.

Want to get to the ROOT of your issues?

You probably already know I am not a fan of meds because of all of their short- and long-term adverse effects. But even herbal parasite cleanses (which are very effective) can make people very sick because of how parasites react when they are being targeted.

Gut healing, in contrast, is a more passive approach. It’s gentler and safer. It’s generally safe even when pregnant or breastfeeding (and for small children) because it’s so gentle.

When you add in good bacteria it changes the environment of the microbiome. The pH improves and the good bacteria start crowding out the bad. This weakens parasites and they can be more naturally flushed from the body. They don’t usually release toxins because they aren’t being attacked. They just become weaker and let go of the intestinal walls and leave the body.

The quickest way to kill parasites is not necessarily the best way. The quickest way is probably to kill them with herbs or meds… But the BEST way is to balance your gut microbiome so that it is sustainable and lasts.
If you kill parasites/candida you will feel better… until they grow back.
if you balance the gut microbiome they can’t grow back because you have targeted the root and grown an army of “good guys” that will fend off overgrowth of any parasite, mold, fungus or yeast in the future.

Questions? Text “Bad bugs” to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Starting with gut healing is an effective approach because improving gut health has to happen anyway: even if you kill parasites and do a cleanse, you still need to improve gut health to ensure they don’t come back.

Read inspiring stories of real healing–from people I know personally! 

(Skip ahead to how to eliminate parasites more gently and safely)

Anti-Parasitic Herbs

Herbs like wormwood, black walnut, cloves, pumpkin seed, garlic, and oregano oil are very effective anti-parasitics.

If you decide to use one of these (either in drops or capsules) just be sure to start slow if you’ve never done a parasite cleanse or have reason to believe you have a severe infestation.

Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth powder is very fine: do not inhale!

Another way to kill parasites is diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is (from Wikipedia), “a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder.”

The benefits of diatomaceous earth is that it’s cheap and safe to consume (but don’t breathe it!).

The particles are sharp and they have a scrubbing/cutting action as they pass through the digestive tract. This cuts parasitic worms, which can make them angry and cause die off reactions. Diatomaceous earth is also very good for scrubbing the digestive tract of mucus, so it’s a good idea to take it on occasion to keep things clean as well (don’t worry; it doesn’t hurt at all and it’s beneficial to our intestines).

Castor Oil

The third method I have used to directly kill and eliminate parasites (and it’s probably my favorite) is frozen castor oil capsules. I like it because it’s easy, cheap, effective and there are no side effects.

Castor oil is a traditional parasite cleansing agent. It’s very effective, but when taken as it was traditionally done (swallow the oil on a spoon) it is unpleasant for several reasons. It tastes terrible and you have to stay very close to the bathroom for at least a couple hours.

Watch as I talk about how I do my frozen castor oil parasite cleanse. 

What I do instead is a frozen castor oil parasite cleanse. There are no side effects or die off reactions, and I like it because it targets a specific hard-to-reach parasite that hides in the small intestines.

Questions? Text “Bad bugs” to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

These parasites live in the mouth of the small intestine, just behind a valve where the stomach empties food into the small intestines. Because of this hiding place these parasites are often able to avoid other methods used to kill them, so they can be tricky to eliminate.

First you need to get castor oil gelcaps. These are very inexpensive for a big bottle.

Next you freeze them. Empty the capsules into a Ziploc bag and put it in the bottom/back of the freezer where it stays coldest. You will need to freeze them for at least 1-2 weeks. You can see they are ready when they look white and translucent.

Now wait for the next full moon (a google search can give you the next full moon). The reason I wait for a full moon is because it is the time when parasites are most active and when they lay eggs. They tend to detach from the intestinal walls during this time so it’s easier to flush them from the body as well. This ensures you kill the most parasites possible.

I have developed a 3 step parasite protocol that will take you from pre-cleanse (opening detox pathways to minimize die off symptoms–step 1) to eliminating parasites (step 2) to making sure they don’t grow right back (step 3).

For step-by-step instructions on exactly what to do for your very first cleanse (effectively, gently & safely), click here.

If you would like support and guidance, or just camaraderie, while you go through this process. please come join the Facebook group where we learn & heal together! All are welcome, so feel free to invite family and friends.

Now What?

After killing parasites (or even if you decide not to directly kill them), improving gut health is key.

Gut health is the root of everything: the gut microbiome produces and regulates hormones, controls how well we absorb nutrients, keeps us regular, helps keep digestion smooth, keeps us at a healthy weight, keeps our organs and blood pressure healthy, regulates adrenals, produces and sends neurotransmitters to the brain so we can sleep well, feel good, be happy and productive… and our gut is almost all of our immune system.

So is gut health important? You decide.

I’ve tried a lot of gut health products and probiotics (most of which did nothing for me), and I finally landed on a protocol I love.

It’s whole food based, fully methylated, nothing synthetic or GMO, no sugar and it actually WORKS. For a lot of people I know, including me.

There are probiotics everywhere these days, all at different price points. But no matter how much or how little I pay, to me it’s a waste of money if it doesn’t work. And most of them I tried didn’t work.

Questions? Text “Bad bugs” to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

I prioritize getting something that will help me over saving money. And besides, I was buying supplements anyway, so this just replaced those and I’m not spending more money.

This is the protocol I like, and it works for almost everyone who tries it (they also offer a one year money back guarantee, so there is no risk to see if it works for you!).

The other great thing about this protocol is the first order comes with a free ReBoot, which sets you up for success. It’s a 3 day protocol you do before starting the gut healing protocol. A modified vegetarian, no grain diet for 3 days while you take the liver-supporting herbs in the ReBoot packet. This “resets” your gut and makes the gut healing protocol even more effective.

So what are you waiting for? Don’t suffer any longer.

Questions? Text “Bad bugs” to ‪(802) 227-7051‬

Resources for Further Study

Step-by-step instructions for your very first parasite cleanse, start to finish

Come Join the Facebook Group where we Learn & Heal Together!

Why 3 Steps?

Heal Your Gut and Your Gut Will Heal You: How Gut Health is the Root of Everything

The Gut-Brain Axis: How Healing the Gut Can Heal the Mind

Where to Start: How Do I Heal My Gut? 

The Gut Healing Protocol I use

Real True Stories of Healing from the Root

 

 

 

New to Freedom & Coffee? Start here.

 

Disclosures:

Many of the product links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission from any purchase. I only recommend products that I love and this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our mission with your clicks!

 

 

 

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The BEST CLEAN & CRUNCHY Gift Giving Guide 2020

The holiday season sneaks up faster and faster every year, and we’re caught scrambling for meaningful gifts to choose for our friends and family.

It is important to choose something thoughtful that:

They don’t already have.

They will actually like. 

They will use. 

  THE PERFECT GIFT

Gift-giving is not limited to Christmas or “The Holidays,” though. There are many times throughout the year that we need to come up with a great gift for someone we love: Birthdays, Homecomings, Mothers and Fathers Day, Retirement and other occasions. 

It’s always a good idea to have a few GREAT GIFTS up your sleeve. 

The past few years I have built my own business, and I have come to appreciate how much work and effort goes into building something from the ground up. Because of this, I am much more likely to purchase from small businesses.

One reason I like to patronize small businesses is because I know how hard small business owners work for every sale, and how much those sales mean to them. Another reason is because the product quality often far exceeds anything I could have purchased at a box store. The value is usually much better than with cheaper, cookie-cutter products as well.

I’ve put together a list of great gifts that prioritize CLEAN & CRUNCHY, and many of them are through small businesses of people I know. Because when we help each other, we all win!

(I’ll also sprinkle in a few gifts you can buy on Amazon–because sometimes we just need a gift within a couple of days!)

The last section will highlight some great “token” gifts and stocking stuffers that are natural, crunchy, and safe–and that are actually very useful!

Here are the top 10 BEST GIFTS for the 2019-2020 seasons. 

10. This GORGEOUS SELENITE LAMP

You’ve probably heard of Himalayan Salt Lamps, which are amazing, health-promoting and gorgeous! But many people already have a Himalayan Salt Lamp, or maybe Salt Lamps are not some peoples’ style… This elegant Selenite Lamp is much more versatile and useful, because it has a dimming switch and it can serve as a bedside lamp! 

Ever since I got mine I use it instead of my bedside table lamp–even for reading–because it’s so bright with a clean, white light. 

While Himalayan Salt Lamps are great (I have a few!), they are a little bit hippie, and don’t provide a lot of light, so I really love this Selenite Lamp for both health benefits, an elegant addition to any decor, and a useful reading lamp for the bedside. 

9. CBD BODY BUTTER AND OIL… PERFECTLY PACKAGED WITH JADE MASSAGE STONES

Swoon! Jade massage stones! 

Whether or not you have jumped aboard the CBD wagon… this is a gift of epic proportions! 

CBD-infused massage oil and body butter… this isn’t just any CBD oil. My friends who regularly use CBD oil say this works incredibly well for any kind of chronic or acute musculo-skeletal pain, from neck or back pain, sciatica, sore muscles– both the cream and the oil soak in beautifully and target inflammation for immediate, long-lasting relief! 

Packaged in a gorgeous gift box with these amazing jade massage stones… this is a gift they will be talking about for years to come! Get one for every member of the family–because if you leave someone out they will be jealous! 

Heck, I’m jealous! This is a must-have… I will be ordering more, because this exclusive holiday-only set is sure to sell out quick and who knows if they will ever have it again?! This is at the top of my Christmas list and will be remembered by anyone who receives it.

8. Essential Oil Gift Sets
Beautiful and functional Essential Oil Diffuser and Humidifier

Don’t love making your own gifts, but love the idea of helping others cut our harmful fragrances and promoting healing in their homes? 

I love giving gift sets that include a couple of great quality essential oils and a diffuser of some sort, from a high-end room diffuser to diffuser jewelry like this necklace or this bracelet set. They make unique stand-alone gifts, prizes, stocking stuffers… or make a great addition to a gift basket or care package.

7. Don’t Forget the Pets! 

Many people who don’t have children consider pets their “children.” 

If you are going to a holiday party or spending Christmas morning with family or friends who don’t have kids but who cherish their pets, it is a great idea to bring gifts for their “children.” 

Why not get the best pet care line out there to pamper their kids, just like you would do if they had human children? They will LOVE you for it–you can thank me later!

This fun holiday set is the perfect way to pamper pets: luxurious, concentrated pet shampoo and a deodorizing spray, as well as a multi-functional tote for pet necessities!

6. If they don’t have a weighted blanket yet… Trust me, they want one.
Great Quality With a Washable Cover–and a Discount!

Weighted blankets have become very popular–and for good reason! There is nothing more comforting than to feel its weight cocooning you on a chilly night!

I love this particular weighted blanket because it’s great quality and it has a washable cover and glass beads inside! I don’t know about you, but whenever I get something that I can’t wash I start to worry. So the washable cover makes this a win-win!

And when you add this one to your cart there is a $20 discount coupon you can apply at check-out! (Check the box on the product page, but hurry before it’s gone)!

5. The gift of clean, pure water, any place & time!

Concerned about water quality and fluoride levels

This Epic water filter eliminates 99.99% of the contaminants, pollutants, chemicals, pharmaceutical drug remnants, and bacteria in our water supply, whether you live in a big city or use well water.

I love Epic water filters because not only do they filter out 3000% more contaminants (over 200 of them!) than other leading water filters, they last much longer too (150 gallons) so they end up being much cheaper as well! The no-guess digital filter reader also tells you when to change the filter, so there is no guessing.

Did you know that water quality can vary widely from area to area, and city to city? if your water quality is exceptionally bad, any filter you use won’t last as long (but it’s super important to filter your water in this case).

If your water quality is better, it’s still important to filter it to eliminate chemicals that have been added, such as chlorine and fluoride–but congratulations, because your filters will probably last longer than expected! Check your water quality here to see what kind of water comes out of your tap.

Ok, so now that you know why you should filter your water, which water filter should you choose? The options are dizzying, and range from just a few dollars to thousands. So how do you know which filters are best and how to choose?

Until recently, there were several good options out there, but most could not filter out fluoride, which is a neurotoxin and a huge concern. Your options were limited to Reverse Osmosis systems, which are great, but which also filter out trace minerals that we need (so those had to be added back in). What a hassle! There were a few options that could filter fluoride with extra filters, but that got very pricey, and they are big, bulky, on-the-counter units that take up a lot of room and require a lot of effort in refilling them and waiting for the water to be ready.

Epic water filters use coconut carbon, and can bind to even the smallest fluoride particles, eliminating 99% of them, along with all other contaminants. The good news is that they don’t bind to or filter out necessary minerals, so we still get those in our pure, delicious, clean water!

I also love all of the options, which make them ideal for gift-giving. If you are looking for a no-hassle under the sink option that only needs to be changed once every year or more and doesn’t take up counter space, this is the one for you.

If you

want an easy pitcher that you can refill and store in the fridge,

this one is perfect: no installation required, and the included monitor tells you exactly when to change the filter!

Need a few stocking stuffers for the kids or a great gift for the outdoorsy type or person on the go? Epic has a wide variety of personal water bottles with filters inside! They can be filled in water fountains or the outdoor bottle can be filled in a natural water source to make it clean and safe for consumption. You can even buy a filter that works with Hydro-flask bottles!

 

4. The gift of emf protection!
Whole house plug: protects up to 5000 square feet: just plug it in and go!

We are all noticing 5G towers going up all around us, and for many of us this is raising real concerns about what EMF radiation is doing to our bodies and our minds.

If you or a loved one has these concerns, you may have been wondering what you can do to protect your family from any harm that may come from this untested radiation exposure. 

This site has research-backed devices, pendants, cups, bracelets and jewelry that has been tested and proven to mitigate and neutralize the documented harmful effects of EMF radiation.

Phone stickers: a must for anyone with a smart phone. Discreet, with comprehensive protection!

Check out the “facts” section of their website for more information about what EMF radiation is and why you should arm yourself with protection against it.

And if you have a “crunchy” family member who seems to have “all the things,” or just really loves to have crunchy gadgets, this site is full of great, functional and attractive items that will also provide health benefits and EMF protection for the user.

I always wear this pendant–it protects a 20-foot radius around me!

For example, how cool is this whole house plug that protects your entire house, office, RV or other building, up to 5000 square feet? Just plug it in and forget about it: it’s the easiest, most effective way to protect your family from EMF radiation exposure for years to come.

Click here to order… use coupon code FREEDOM at checkout for 10% off everything on the site! 

 

3. A Whole New Outlook 

Do you have a loved one who suffers from depression? Anxiety? ADHD? 

Feel like superman: conquer the world!

Or a child in your family that suffers from focus issues or migraines? Difficulty concentrating in school or other brain issues? 

Why not give them the gift of health this year? 

Science is discovering that the gut-brain axis is more prevalent than was previously thought… to the extent that they are now uncovering specific microbiota that directly affect brain health and mental wellness! 

This is revolutionary because  children, women and men can heal their guts and reclaim mental wellness! If you or a loved one suffers from brain fog, fatigue, migraines, depression, stress, insomnia, anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, digestive issues like IBS or reflux, hormone imbalance, weight gain or any number of health issues… the health of your gut is the key. 

The children’s protocol is yummy! It comes in a naturally-fruit-flavored probiotic drink, pixie-stick mood pouches and yummy methylated vitamin chewables. The adult protocol is a drink and two supplements to support gut health, brain health, and the pathway that connects the two. 

Check out the science here, and get your loved one (or yourself!) the gift of health this year. And take the mental wellness assessment here

2. The Only Natural High-Performance Skincare on the Planet

Finally! Naturally-based Performance Skincare!Do you struggle with finding a skincare regimen that really works and doesn’t have toxic ingredients? Most people do… which is why this brand new skincare line is going to change your life, and could be the perfect gift for the acne-prone teen or aging mom in your life (or even yourself)! 

Check out those results after just one week! What a transformation!

We’ve all heard about anti-aging skincare, and we’ve heard about natural skincare, but for the first time ever, there is high performance anti-aging NATURAL skincare…and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. 

Whether the issue is acne, wrinkles, dark puffy circles, fine lines, dark spots, saggy skin or anything in between–you need to know about this natural skin care line! 

She has eczema and after just 4 days of use, she is comfortable going to work without makeup for the first time!

It’s been selling out ever since it was released and has been featured in several fashion magazines and “best product of the year” websites… so get it while you can! 

The packaging is gorgeous and will make the perfect gift for anyone! 

And did I mention there are discounts available (nobody pays retail!)? I’d love to discuss which line will work best for your needs and how to get the best deal possible! I can also get you a $20 credit towards a (future) 2nd purchase!

1. easy, affordable, whole-food meals all year long: in clay! 

Do you have a crunchy mom in your life that is hard to shop for because she is so picky about ingredients and anything she uses? 

Do you know a chef who will only use the best materials to cook with, because he knows the material you use makes a huge difference in the final flavor, texture and nutrient content of his creations? 

Do you want to get your mother or grandmother something that makes cooking at home easy, quick and non-toxic

Use coupon code NOURISH10 at checkout for 10% off any purchase!

If you are looking for a gift for the hippie, chef or foodie in your life, you may have just found the perfect gift: a VitaClay Multi-Cooker

 

The inner pot is made of organic, unglazed zisha clay, and the muti-cooker machine is very versatile: it has a rice maker, yogurt maker and slow cooker all in one! It can even reheat foods (it re-steams rice so it tastes freshly cooked), steam veggies, create simple one-pot meals, and cook the best bone broth you’ve ever tasted! 

Material really does matter when cooking, and using non-toxic cooking materials is key: it’s those little exposures of chemicals, heavy metals and toxins on a daily basis that make the biggest difference in our health. 

VitaClay Stock Pot: Great for Large batches of broth, soups and stews!

 

VitaClay is the gift that keeps on giving–your loved one will not be able to stop talking about this amazing gift! And watch the site for sales and specials approaching every holiday–use code NOURISH for 10% off at check-out as well! 

🌱 BONUS: A BREATH OF FRESH AIR  🍃

We’ve discussed cleaning up multiple areas of our lives, from what we put on our bodies to what we use to clean our houses; from purifying our water to protecting ourselves from EMF radiation.

But what about the air we breathe?

Most of us live in a city or are affected by a nearby source of air pollution, such as a factory. Even if we don’t, we can be affected by pollution from other parts of the world, such as pollution that is carried across the Pacific Ocean via the jet stream.

It has also been documented that air quality inside of our homes and other buildings is worse than the air quality outside of even the most polluted cities!

It is important to know the air quality of the place that you live, and also recognize that it can change based on events that happen. For example, I live in Northern California, and we are exposed to smoke and pollution from wildfires on a pretty regular basis. Last year the smoke from the fires several hundred miles away was so bad that there was a red haze settling over the entire area, and we were avoiding going outside at all, wearing masks when we did!

I read that in some places (most notably in Asia) just breathing the air can be the damaging equivalent to your lungs as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day!

The air we breathe affects every cell in our bodies and impacts our health in major ways, so if you want to be healthy it makes sense to purify the air in your home, where you sleep and spend a majority of your time.

Use coupon FREEDOM for 10% off and free shipping

Why not get the best air purifier that money can buy? I like Austin Air Purifiers because they not only purify the air better than any other filter out there, the filters last 5 YEARS and even the filters have warranties! They use coconut carbon, which is not only sustainable, but it cleans the air better than any other material on the market. And Austin Air Purifiers doesn’t even store their filters or their purifiers in a warehouse, so the filters last much longer because they haven’t been absorbing the VOCs and other impure elements in a warehouse environment. These purifiers and filters are shipped directly to you for best air purification and longest life possible.

If you are looking for a great gift for the whole family, or just for yourself… something that will benefit your whole household’s health for years to come, check out Austin Air Purifiers.

Right now use coupon FREEDOM for 10% off AND free shipping through December 18!

 

 

🎅 Stocking Stuffers and Secret Santa Gift Ideas 🎅

Sometimes you just need something a bit smaller–whether you are looking for an addition to a gift basket or care package,  you need fun stocking-stuffers or even a great Secret Santa gift, here are a few ideas that are clean, crunchy, fun and easy on the wallet.

Massage Roller Ball

This massage roller ball is useful for anyone who ever has musculoskeletal pain. Whether you know a gym rat or someone who loves to play sports, a weekend hiker or someone with arthritis, this massage roller is affordable, but it’s something they probably don’t already have! 

There are cheaper versions (get a few for small gifts for co-workers or acquaintances) and higher-end versions that are higher quality and do a little bit more. Either way, your friends are going to love you for this special gift!

Chocolate candy. Real Food ingredients.

Candy–Without the Baddies!

If you are a parent, you probably fill stockings full of candy and presents. But if you are trying to make things more natural this year, you may be wondering if candy is a thing of the past–and how to preserve your children’s childhood without giving them toxic treats.

Organic fruit-flavored candies of all varieties!

Fortunately there are lots of options for occasional candy treats: organic, no toxic artificial dyes or GMOs; they are something you can feel good about putting in your kids’ stockings.

Finally! Real Food Marshmallows that taste AWESOME!

 

My two favorite brands are Unreal Candy and YumEarth. Between those two I can cover most of the candy options that kids (and adults) love! And if you are looking for marshmallows with great ingredients, check out Smashmallows!

 

 

Great (Affordable) Home-made Gifts for Everyone! 

If you are even a little bit “crunchy” (natural), you probably have collected a few essential oils. Essential oils are super versatile and also very healing. 

Good quality essential oils provide a plethora of benefits, from adding a non-toxic pleasing aroma to yourself,  your beauty products and your household, to boosting cleaning power in natural and homemade cleaners, to promoting healing and immune system response during cold-and-flu season, to promoting feelings of calm, courage, and inspiration. 

Essential oils are so great because they are so versatile: there are thousands of essential oils, and everyone has a favorite fragrance, whether it’s citrus, mint, vanilla or floral. The combinations of different oils are endless, so everyone can find their own, unique favorites. 

You can make easy (cheap!) gifts for everyone on your list, from perfumes to deodorant, from a home-made poo*pourri spray to healing balms, lip balms and bug repellents. 

Check out 15 gifts and stocking stuffers you (or your kids) can make for everyone you know this year–quickly, easily and affordably! 

But don’t pick up cheap essential oils from the dollar section… many are diluted or are just fake artificial scents–which defeats the whole purpose! These are the best quality oils around, so if you are going for benefits, go for these.

Great Water Bottles that Filter Themselves!

So many options!

Whether you need fabulous stocking stuffers for the kids or a great gift for workout fiend or the hiking aficionado… Epic has a wide variety of personal water bottles with filters inside! They can be filled in water fountains or the outdoor bottle can be filled in a natural water source to make it clean and safe for consumption. You can even buy a filter that works with Hydro-flask bottles!

 

A Fun, Healing Drink for the Kids!

 All the latest science is talking about gut health.

Every health article I read lately talks about how gut health is the key to everything, and even science around mental health is all about the gut-brain axis and healing the gut to heal the brain and the mind.

If your child had sleep issues, focus issues, ADHD, mood problems, aggressive behavior, headaches, anxiety, or even severe issues like Autism spectrum or other diagnosed mental issues, gut health is key.

But where to start? 

The science is showing specific microbiota that are responsible for mental wellness: did you know 90% of our brain’s serotonin is created in the gut??

This is big news! That means we can heal our guts (and our children’s guts) to achieve mental wellness! Focus, attention, calm, sleep, happy children! All of it!

I love this yummy drink for kids: they can just drink this once a day and heal their guts, AND their brains! Lots of people are cutting down or eliminating meds just by healing their guts! I’m excited about this… so discuss the results I’ve been getting (for me and for my son), hit me up and we can chat!

If you would rather look at the adult gut-brain axis healing protocol, you can see that here.

Take the Mental Wellness Assessment for you or your child here.

New to Freedom & Coffee? Start here.

 

Disclosures:

Many of the product links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission from any purchase. I only recommend products that I love and this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our mission with your clicks!

WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo by Skin Science: An Honest Review

I am a sucker for natural products. Anything that claims to use the power of nature to work wonders on my skin, my hair, my body, or my overall health has me entranced, and I have to try it. 

Hair History

For years, I bounced from shampoo to shampoo, looking for natural products that would make my hair healthy, shiny, thick, smooth and manageable. I tried everything I could find: online, at the health food stores, and even in salons. Nothing ever worked for me: my hair was thin, fine, frizzy, flat, weak and pathetic. It was very frustrating. 

About two years ago I found a product that transformed my hair: it is now thicker, longer, healthier, shinier, smoother and so much more manageable than ever before. My shedding is down 80% and my hair is 2-3x thicker than it’s ever been. It would never grow past my shoulders and now it’s half-way down my back. It’s just overall better. 

That doesn’t stop me from seeing ads for other products that come out, however. 

I’ve been eyeing this WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo by Skin Science for awhile: the ads are everywhere and they look really good! I’ve even had a couple of friends say they love it.

Apple Cider Vinegar is making people’s hair thicker, shinier, longer, healthier! It’s getting rid of dandruff and build up! (Basically everything my current shampoo has done for me. But this one looks like it might be cheaper, and what if…?)

So when I was offered the chance to try it, I thought this would be a great time to compare it with my current routine. 

Full disclosure: I love my current hair products. They have done wonders for my hair. I don’t think I’ll ever switch. But if I found something I liked better, that was just as natural and cost less, I absolutely would switch. And I would promote that shampoo instead of the one I have been talking about. 

So let’s see how this one shakes out. I will try not to compare too much with what I’m using, but I’ve been using it for almost 2 years, so some comparison is inevitable: I am used to my hair being the way it is, so I have to compare my experience here with that. 

Let’s see how it goes! 

First Impressions

  1. Large Bottles, Low Price
    My first impression is that at first glance it appears to be very affordable. The bottles are 16.9 ounces and I paid $29.99 for a shampoo and conditioner set (they’re about $20 each if purchased separately on Amazon).

Over the past couple of years I have realized that fluid ounces of hair product + price is not always the most accurate indication of value. Most shampoos I’ve looked at are heavily diluted, so it’s necessary to use an entire handful to get a good lather on my head. If that’s the case, 16.9 ounces may not last as long as it looks. If I’m using almost an ounce of product for each wash, it will last me less than 20 washes.

2. The Ingredients

I also had to look at the ingredients. I have become somewhat of a shampoo ingredient guru over the past 20 months with countless hours of research under my belt, and I can recognize the main offenders of toxicity and build-up in hair care products pretty quickly. 

I noticed the claims of WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo by Skin Science (from the official Amazon store):

  • BEAUTIFUL, STRONG HAIR: WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo is able to balance the pH level that closely resembles human hair to help obtain the silkiest, softest, glossiest hair. Use twice a week to be less prone to breakage, split ends, and thinning hair.
  • CLARIFYING CLEANSER: Detox your hair & scalp – cleaning the buildups caused by dirt, dust, filth, dead scalp cells and styling product. Raw apple cider vinegar ensures removal of toxin in damaged hair. Helps rejuvenate & refresh for men and women.
  • MAXIMIZE HAIR SHINE: Improve your hair cleansing routine with our deep cleaning shampoo to get the best results possible. You’ll reduce dandruff, flakes, and frizz while enhancing shine and gloss to your hair. Get the best hair nourishment available.
  • SLOW DOWN HAIR LOSS: Saw palmetto helps slow down hair fall and male pattern baldness, reducing the amount of hair strands falling during a shower. With a little patience, your hair will have more volume and will feel softer, thicker and natural.
  • NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Our WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo is hypoallergenic, sulfate and paraben free for moisturized and hydrated hair. Massage scalp and stimulate hair follicles to be less prone to breakage, split ends, and thinning hair. Cruelty Free.


Sounds pretty good! I did notice that there were no claims to not contain any PEGs or petroleum derivatives, silicones, waxes, gums, phthalates or harmful fragrances. 

This distinction is important for a few reasons: 

PEGs or Petroleum derivatives are the most toxic ingredients in most hair and body care products. All of the problematic ingredients: sulfates, parabens, phthalates, harmful fragrances, harsh sulfates and other toxic chemicals are most often derived from petroleum. If you see a guarantee that there is no petroleum or PEG (petroleum derivatives), pay attention! 

Harmful fragrances (derived from PEGs) cause a lot of problems! Many people have become very sensitive to artificial fragrances and with just a passing exposure can have symptoms like migraines, dizziness, nausea, or worse! Even if you don’t have a fragrance sensitivity, these fragrances can cause hormone imbalance (endocrine disruption) and absorb into our bloodstream, causing more health issues over time (and sometimes building up to result in the fragrance allergies listed above). 

Silicones, waxes and gums are not necessarily toxic, but they are deadly for your hair! These artificial (and sometimes even natural) ingredients build up on the hair strands and in the hair follicles. They are in most hair products for a reason: they make hair feel soft, silky and smooth by coating the hair strand with a waxy, plastic-like substance that glosses over the imperfections and damage of the hair cuticle. The problem with them is that they build up on the hair strands and on the scalp over time, causing issues like dry, brittle, frizzy hair, dandruff, oily scalp, and even hair thinning over time! That’s the opposite of what we want from our shampoo!

Phthalates, parabens and harsh sulfates are also commonly derived from petroleum (PEGs) and therefore carry the same health consequences listed above. I have seen some sulfates that can be derived from other sources, like coconuts (as in the case of Dr. Bronner’s Sal’s Suds), but for the most part, ingredients like SLS are toxic and will damage your health and your hair in the long run. Your best bet: find products completely free of PEGs or petroleum products of any kind. 

Overall, Wow Apple Cider Shampoo and its accompanying Conditioner are not as bad as many mainstream products, but I was not impressed with them as a whole.  

3. Where is it Made?

The bottle indicates WOW Apple Cider Shampoo and Conditioner by Skin Science are made in India. I do like that my current shampoo is formulated, manufactured, processed and shipped from start to finish on American soil. Not only is it a point of pride and provides jobs for American workers, it makes the products more Eco-friendly as well, cutting down on pollution from shipping and other environmental footprints. 

4. Is it Eco-Friendly? 

As it contains petroleum derivatives, that already makes it less than ideal from an ecological standpoint (as well as a health one). The bottles do have a “1” plastic recycle code, which means they are recyclable. Hooray! But the fact that they are less concentrated means they use more plastic than necessary, and more bottles need to be used and recycled than if it were more concentrated. So overall, not terribly impressed with the eco-footprint, especially combined with the fact that it is made in India and shipped to me across the world, containing mostly water. 

Testing the Product

Without further ado, let’s see how the product works!

The First Wash

I followed the instructions on the bottle, which advise to use a “generous amount” of shampoo, lather on the scalp, and allow to sit on the scalp for up to 5 minutes for best results, then rinse and follow with conditioner.  

In doing this I noticed I used 5-6 times as much product as I usually do to get a good lather on my scalp. It definitely is not nearly as concentrated as the products I have been using.

The Fragrance

The shampoo smells like apples, and the conditioner smells like coconuts. 

But not like smelling an actual apple or coconut… more like smelling an apple or coconut candle. Very artificial fragrances. I am not chemically sensitive to most fragrances unless they are in my face and I’m breathing them in heavily for over an hour, but I can usually spot harmful artificial fragrances just by their overpowering, artificial-smelling scent. These products do not even claim to eliminate harmful fragrances, so it’s clear that the fragrances are not natural or safe. 

Shedding

My primary concern before using my current shampoo and something that is very important to me is shedding. Since I was a teenager I would shed handfuls of hair in the shower every time I washed, and then I would be shedding hairs all day long: every time I ran my fingers through my hair I would get 4 or 5 hairs. In order to prevent my hair covering everything, I made constant trips to the trash can to throw away the hairs that were inevitably in my hands every few minutes. 

Shedding I have experienced over the past two years with my current products and routine, washing 1-2 times per week.

 

The shampoo I’ve been using for the past couple of years cut that shedding down by about 80%, which also has made my hair much thicker as it’s grown out without all of the constant fallout. I was very curious to see what happened when I used this shampoo, and a little bit worried because I don’t want to lose all that hair again after growing such a thick, healthy head of hair over the past 2 years! 

 

 

 

Shedding from shower using WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner.

In the first wash, I did experience about twice as much shedding as I usually do with my current shampoo. Not as bad as before, but still not exciting to me. 

Tangling

My hair type is fine and thin, so I have always had some issues with tangling and knotting, especially when my hair is damaged and I need a haircut. With my current shampoo regimen I almost never have any tangling. If i do have tangling (once every month or two) I use the detangling spray from our junior line and that takes care of it. 

Shedding when combing out numerous tangles after using WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner.

With Wow Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and their accompanying conditioner, my hair felt more coated than I am used to, and it was much more tangled. When using my wet brush to brush it out, I lost about the same amount of hair I had lost in the shower when I was washing! 

To be honest, the shedding alone makes me hesitant to use this product again, but I want to use it at least a few times for a fair review. 

 

 

 

Results

My main requirements are low shedding, no frizz, manageable, thick, healthy hair with shine and volume, that will grow past my shoulders. Of course I don’t want to add build up to my hair if i don’t have to either.

Knowing the detriment of buildup to my hair health, why would I? 

For the purposes of review, I did everything the same as I normally do it with my hair: I most often air dry by twisting my hair up into a bun and allowing it to dry in loose curls that way. So that is what I’m doing with WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner by Skin Science

Here are my results: 

  1. Shedding. As I discussed above, the shedding has quadrupled in just one wash. Not loving it. 
  2. Frizz: More frizz than normal, but not terrible. Definitely not as bad as before I started using my current products. 
  3. Manageable: Slightly less manageable overall. My hair felt coated and heavy and didn’t “fall” in the effortless way I am used to. I found myself brushing it every few minutes to try to get it to lay down and look decent. Finally I gave up and pulled it into a pony tail. I can’t remember the last time I needed to do that before day 5 after washing. 
  4. Thick: I’d have to use it for a good year to see the difference in how it grows out, but if the shedding is increased, my hair will not be thicker. 
  5. Healthy: My hair is already healthy, as it’s been growing out with my current products for almost 2 years, and getting better and better with time. It will probably take a year or more of exclusive use to see if there is a real difference. 
  6. Shine: I didn’t notice any difference in shine compared with my current routine.
  7. Volume: Volume was decent in the first wash. 
  8. Growth: Again, impossible to say for sure unless I use it for a long time. 

Overall, on day 2 (the day after my wash) my hair felt heavy and coated. I was surprised that it didn’t look terrible, but it didn’t feel good either. It was a little more frizzy and less manageable than I am used to, and the artificial fragrance lingered and was nauseating after a while. 

WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo  by Skin Science promises to remove buildup and resolve scalp itchiness and dandruff… yet, my hair and scalp felt coated and less clean, and my scalp itched a little bit (it usually doesn’t itch at all). So that is a concern with continued use as well, because buildup can have that effect. 

Cost Analysis

I had to use a full handful of this product to get a lather all over my scalp. I would say I used at least an ounce of product, but to be fair, let’s say I will get about 20 uses out of this bottle, which means it will last me about 10 weeks if I wash my hair twice per week. 2.5 months for a bottle of shampoo that cost me $15 comes out to $12 per month for both shampoo and conditioner, or $1.50 per wash. Not a bad value!

Also a lot more expensive than what I am currently using and what is giving me much better results. The first bottle of my current product lasted me more than 10 months… roughly 4-5 times the 10 weeks this may last if I can stretch out washes to twice a week (doubtful since I already want to wash my hair on day 2).

Even with a lower cost per bottle, this still makes WOW Apple Cider Vinegar 2-3 times the cost of what I am using now.


Given my current experience and how it compares to my regular shampoo in terms of cost, safety of ingredients and results achieved, there is little chance I would ever use this product long enough to see what happens with continued use.

I will probably use it one more time, for the sake of a reasonable test period, but I really don’t want to. I will probably have to wash sooner than the 4th or 5th day (the soonest I usually have to wash with my current routine), which will be an added cost of time and money (if I’m washing more often than twice a week as I do now, the bottles will not last even the projected 10 weeks, which is much shorter than I’m used to already). 

Side Note: My Skin

Another thing… when my hair feels dirty and oily, it makes my skin feel oily and dirty too, which for me usually results in breakouts. As another uncomfortable side effect of using this… definitely not persuading me to continue. 

Conclusion

I stated from the beginning that I love the hair products I’m using now, but after using them for almost two years, I thought it would be fun to try something else that claims to do the same things, and might be cheaper. 

My conclusions for this test of WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner by Skin Science are: 

  • It leaves my hair feeling heavy and oily
  • I have slightly more frizz than I’m used to. 
  • My hair is noticeably less manageable than normal.
  • Volume and shine seem about the same. 
  • I will need to wash more than my normal 1-2 times per week. It’s only the 2nd day and I already want to wash my hair because it doesn’t feel clean and it’s making my skin feel oily and clogged. 
  • It is much more expensive than what I am currently using because it is much less concentrated and I will have to wash quite a bit more often. At most, if i wash 2 times per week, these bottles will last me 10 weeks. My first bottle of what I am using now lasted me more than 10 months, 4-5 times longer. Even at retail price, my current products are half the price of these and give me much better results. At the wholesale price I pay, WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner by Skin Science are about four times the cost of what I am using now. 
  • The ingredients of WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner by Skin Science are not as clean as the products I am using now. They use toxic PEG (petroleum derivatives), harmful artificial fragrances, and ingredients that build up on the scalp and hair cuticles. After almost two years of researching the ingredients in hair products, these do not impress me, especially for something that claims to be all natural and pure. 

 

Bottom Line: While WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner by Skin Science is less toxic than most mainstream brands of hair care, it does not match up to my current hair care on any level: not in terms of cost, performance or toxicity. 

 

Want to know what I’m using instead? Check out this review.

 

New to Freedom & Coffee? Start here.

Disclosures:

Many of the product links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission from any purchase. I only recommend products that I love and this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our mission with your clicks!

The Truth About Fluoride

No matter where you live or what you believe, you’ve probably heard conflicting information about fluoride.

We are all taught from an early age that fluoride is beneficial for teeth and that it can prevent tooth decay. We hear this from the dentist, from our parents, on TV, and we may even be exposed to an advertising campaign aiming to make sure we know all the wonderful benefits of having fluoride in our toothpaste and in our water.

We also hear conflicting information, however: and usually this information comes from less… “reliable” or “trusted” sources.

Perhaps you heard it from your conspiracy theorist uncle, or you saw alarmist posts on social media. Maybe you’re noticing the products on the store shelves that boast a lack of fluoride (fluoride-free toothpastes and water filters that can remove the fluoride from your water).

Is All Fluoride Created Equal?

First of all, I have been researching natural health and how to heal ourselves without meds for over a decade. During that time I have discovered that nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Fluoride is no exception. It’s not a clear-cut case of “Fluoride: bad, ” as it turns out.

This fact was discovered by my friend Kara over at Deep South Crunchy Mom when we were discussing Kombucha. She told me that in an effort to cut back on coffee, she was now drinking Kombucha every morning and it was doing wonders for her gut health and energy levels. I told her I had read on the blog Cheeseslave that there were high levels of fluoride in Kombucha, both because tea leaves tend to absorb fluoride from the soil, and because fluoride is a byproduct of the kombucha-making process.

Kara was devastated (but not for long). She knew the fluoride in our water and toothpaste was bad (see below) but thought there had to be some difference between naturally-occuring fluoride in tea and kombucha, and the nasty industrial waste product found in our water supply or even the pharmaceutical grade fluoride found in our toothpaste (which is still a neurotoxin).

See what she found here.

Then, if you are curious about Kombucha and what it can do for you, head over to my friend Sara’s blog Clean Living with Kids, to learn more about Kombucha and how to make it.

What is the Truth About Fluoride?

If you’re here for the first time, you may not know it, but I have been researching health, nutrition and the big industries in America for over a decade. (Read here about how I got started on this journey).

I have learned a lot of very eye-opening information during this time, but the number one thing I’ve learned is:

We can’t trust everyone, especially those who are profiting from our trust.

Have you ever heard the term, “Follow the money?”

It may seem cliche, but this phrase one of the truest statements you will ever hear regarding the dangers in our food and water supply as well as a lot of the other dangers in our society today.

If you hear of a “conspiracy” in any area of society, whether it pertains to food or politics or anything else, and you think, “Why would they do that?” The answer is almost inevitably: “Follow the money.”

A Brief History of Fluoride

Fluoride was first added to the U.S. water supply in 1945 in an effort to combat tooth decay.

It seems strange that this was the goal, however, because the year before (1944) the American Dental Association found that fluoride was actually detrimental to teeth and could cause decay and other issues.

The 1944 the Journal of the American Dental Association reported that using between 1.6 and 4 ppm (parts per million) fluoride in water would cause 50% of adults to need false teeth. On top of that, the world’s largest study looked at 400,000 students, revealing that tooth decay increased in over 25% with just 1ppm fluoride in drinking water. (Source 1)

To understand why a chemical of then unknown risk was added to our water supply for seemingly no good reason at all, we have to understand the mindset of the scientific community in post World War II America:

“The history of community water fluoridation is a reflection of the post WWII era of the 1950’s when many thought chemicals in one form or another could solve almost any problem. Our gaze was focused on the beneficial properties of the chemicals, not on the potential hazards. A classic example is DDT, that in addition to being a potent pesticide, almost killed off predatory birds and more recently was found to be harmful to humans.”  –Steven Gilbert, Ph.D., founder and director of the Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders (INND) (Source 2)

Since that time, it has become widely known that fluoride is a neurotoxin, yet it is still added to approximately 70% of US water supplies. Why?

Any dentist will tell you it is beneficial for our teeth. But is it?

And what are the potential hazards of this chemical?

And how is it produced?

We’ve already discussed that the American Dental Association has known since 1944 (the year before water fluoridation began) that fluoride is actually not beneficial for dental health. So why have they been adding it to water supplies ever since?

In 1945, a large quantity of hydrogen fluoride was produced as a byproduct of industry from DuPont’s Deepwater, New Jersey, plant. The huge quantities of this chemical byproduct were a problem: they had no good way to dispose of it, so they proposed a solution: add it to the water supply. After the government was convinced that fluoride was good for our dental health and that it should be added to water, they continued to do so, finding other sources, like the fertilizer industry, which produces phosphates as an industrial byproduct.

Again from Dr. Gilbert:

Many are surprised to learn that unlike the pharmaceutical grade fluoride in their toothpaste, the fluoride in their water is an untreated industrial waste product, one that contains trace elements of arsenic and lead.

Without the phosphate industry’s effluent, water fluoridation would be prohibitively expensive. And without fluoridation, the phosphate industry would be stuck with an expensive waste disposal problem.”

Studies Proving Harm from Fluoride Ingestion

If you thinks this smacks of conspiracy, take a look at this. When European countries such as Germany, the UK, Italy and France did a risk analysis of fluoride, they all concluded that it was a dangerous toxin and that any potential benefit was not worth the risk.

They further concluded that adding fluoride to drinking water has no measurable benefit to dental health at all. It doesn’t even make sense to take it internally when it is only supposed to help prevent enamel erosion and decay.

Dr. Gilbert explains that the U.S. government’s decision to fluoridate drinking water was the result of two short-term studies that compared cavity rates in a city with water fluoridation (Muskegon/Grand Rapids, Michigan) with the cavity rates in a city without it (Kingston/Newburgh, New York).

These two studies were set to run 10 years, but when early results showed cavity reduction, the U.S. Public Health Service approved water fluoridation after five years — with no data or safety studies on long-term toxicity.

A more recent study done by researchers collaborating in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico shows that fluoride levels ingested by a pregnant mother is inversely proportional to the IQ of the child she is carrying. Because of reports of neurotoxicity from fluoride, these researchers wanted to do a study that measured the actual effects on prenatal brain development when the pregnant mother ingested differing amounts of fluoride. The study included 299 participants and the results were astounding: for every increase in maternal urine fluoride by0.5mg/L, the IQ of the child she was carrying was lowered measurably and significantly (Source 5).

Okay, so we shouldn’t fluoridate our water… but what about toothpaste?

If you are thinking that maybe fluoridating the water supply went too far, but we should still harness the dental health benefits of this chemical at the dentist and when we brush our teeth, think again.

Remember, it’s never a good idea to put a neurotoxin in your mouth.

Let’s look at this logically. Pick up a tube of fluoridated toothpaste and look at the back. There is probably a warning on the back that it is “harmful if swallowed,” and that you should call poison control:

Wait…what?

You should call poison control if you swallow something that you put in your mouth every day? Does that sound reasonable to you?

How much fluoride is worth calling poison control?

The amount of toothpaste that the package itself says it harmful to swallow (and that poison control should be enlisted) is the amount in one use: a pea-sized amount (as listed on the package).

Do you know anyone who uses a pea-sized amount of toothpaste when they brush their teeth? Do you? These are the images we see every day, on every package of toothpaste, and on every television commercial:

To me that looks like about 6 peas lined up together, and one source said the “pea-sized amount” is about the size of a split pea: much smaller than you would think!

So if more than a tiny pea-sized amount of toothpaste, a product we put in our mouth every day at least once, is swallowed, we are supposed to call poison control. Because fluoride is toxic. Does that sound okay to everyone?

Add this to the fact that the fluoride found in toothpaste is actually pharmaceutical grade, and the fluoride found in our water supply is an industrial waste product (most recently being purchased by our government from China’s industrial waste supply, because not even China thinks fluoride is safe enough to put in their water supply)….

 

…and to the fact that fluoride doesn’t even benefit our teeth! The evidence that there is any benefit to dental health at all is sketchy at best, and far outweighed by the toxic nature of the chemical itself.

Which really begins to beg the question… why are we being poisoned with fluoride?!

Is it Really That Bad?

At this point you may be thinking, “Okay, I’m sure fluoride is toxic at high levels, but surely we aren’t ingesting anything significant in our drinking water, right?”

Wrong.

And that is why adding fluoride to drinking water is so dangerous. The amount of water people drink on a daily basis can vary widely from person to person, and the toxicity of even just a minute amount can affect a baby much more than it can affect a 200-pound man.

So how can the government be so irresponsible as to allow a known neurotoxin to be added to our water supply? And why would they tell us it’s good for us?

The world’s largest study looked at 400,000 students, revealing that tooth decay increased in over 25% with just 1ppm fluoride in drinking water. How much fluoride is in our drinking water? A minimum of 1ppm.

And how much fluoride do you have to ingest for it to become toxic? Well, that depends what you mean by toxic. The minimum lethal dose of fluoride is 5 milligrams of fluoride for each kilogram of body weight. And how much fluoride does the average fluoride toothpaste contain? About 5 mg in a tiny pea sized dollop (which we 10x every time we brush our teeth).

For an adult, one swallow is not a lethal dose of fluoride, but consider that many children’s toothpastes are also fluoridated:

“Most disturbing, however, is the fact that even bubble-gum and fruit-flavored toothpastes for children contain sufficient amounts of fluoride to kill a child. Indeed, as shown in the following table, an average-weighing 2-year-old child could die from ingesting just 40% of a “Colgate for Kids” bubble-gum flavored toothpaste.”  (Source 6)

So… we make children’s toothpaste taste like candy and then put enough fluoride in less than half a tube of it to kill them.

Perfect.

Another disturbing fact is that fluoride builds up in the body. It is not flushed out like you may think. This means the effects of this poison are cumulative.

Now that 8 glasses of water we drink every day doesn’t seem so harmless, does it? That tiny bit of toothpaste we swallow twice a day just got a lot more intimidating.

What Can We Do?

It’s easy to switch to a non-fluoride toothpaste: they’re everywhere (and if you have kids, definitely do that so they don’t accidentally swallow an amount that would harm or kill them).

My favorite toothpaste is clay-based toothpaste, because it binds to bacteria in the mouth for a detoxifying effect and can also remineralize teeth!

What are my options for water?

But of course the main source of fluoride for most of us is in our drinking water. As we’ve seen, many municipalities add industrial waste fluoride into our drinking water and tell us it is good for us. 

Buy it.

To avoid fluoride, one option is to buy all of the drinking and cooking water we use, lugging it from the store home several times a week. Some people do this, and they are happy with this arrangement.  If we don’t want to do that, the only recourse we have (aside from moving to the country and drinking water from a private well) is to purify our tap water.

Purify it.

Fluoride is a very small particle, however, and is difficult to remove from water with a filter.  Most filters, even if they remove 95+% of contaminants, do not claim to remove fluoride. How frustrating!

Until recently, the best way to reliably remove fluoride and other contaminants from the water was a reverse-osmosis filtration system. These are easy to install and they really do work, but it’s like drinking rain water directly from the sky: it’s a sterile water with no minerals, which isn’t ideal.

What kind of filter should I get?

Drinking water, from mountain springs for example, is rich in minerals from rocks and soil, and our bodies need those minerals. If we drink distilled (reverse-osmosis) water, we can become depleted of essential nutrients in the body, which can cause health issues over time. For this reason, most people who use reverse osmosis systems also need to add minerals back into the water with liquid mineral drops or a mineral-rich salt.

All of this is a bit too much work for me, so for a long time I had a decent under-the-sink filter that removed pretty much everything…except fluoride.

There are things you can eat, such as tamarind or iodine, that detox fluoride from the body, but if you can remove it from the source you don’t have to worry about detoxing it.

Finally, a filter that removes fluoride, NOT minerals!

There are two filters I know of that remove fluoride without distilling the water and removing essential nutrients. One is the Berkey, which is a great choice, but it’s expensive, bulky, and the filter replacements are quite pricey (the fluoride filters are extra).

Recently a friend told me about Epic water filters, and I am hooked. They are convenient (even portable!) and they use a filtration material I am comfortable with: coconut charcoal. They remove 99.9% of tap water contaminants, including fluoride!

They have a variety of options, from under-the-sink filtration units that are easy to install, to pitchers and personal water bottles. They even have a conversion kit for hydroflasks! I got the stainless steel Outback for my son to take to school after I found out he was filling up his water bottle in the water fountain. I opened it up and it smelled like it had been filled in a pool! Yuck!

I’ve been very happy with my Epic water filters, both in terms of cost and performance, and the only drawback I have found so far is that the water takes a little longer to filter. I think this is because it has to filter the tiny fluoride particles, the filter is that much more dense, and it just takes the water longer to get through it. Overall, Epic water filters have been a great solution for my family to get clean, fluoride-free drinking water for a low cost.

The Plot Thickens…

Don’t forget to check out my friend Kara’s post about why not all fluoride is created equal…

And if you are curious about Kombucha, check out Sara’s post about the benefits of Kombucha and how to make it yourself.

Resources and Citations

Fluoride: How A Toxic Poison Ended Up In Our Water Supply

Dr. Mercola: A Statement Opposing Fluoride

History of Medicine Fact #8: U.S. water fluoridation began in 1945 and continues today, despite the fact that the FDA has never approved it

Hazard Profile on the Fluoridation of Drinking Water 

Health Effects Database

Prenatal Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes in Children at 4 and 6–12 Years of Age in Mexico

What is a Lethal Dose of Fluoride?

How Fluoride Was Sold to America and How We Bought It

More Fluoride Resources

 

New to Freedom & Coffee? Start here.

Disclosures:

Many of the product links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission from any purchase. I only recommend products that I love and this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our mission with your clicks!

 

 

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