Kasia BERRY- FRESH SOAP NUTS * USDA * All-purpose Cleaner

Kasia BERRY- FRESH SOAP NUTS

organic all-purpose cleaner

USDA CERTIFIED   •   ORGANIC   •   ALLERGY-FREE

A SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO CHEMICAL CLEANERS

The growing informed consumer is becoming aware of facts that previously went unnoticed such as the presence of Triclosan in anti-bacterial soaps, bisphenol-A in plastics and that air fresheners doused in phthalates.  These hazards are present in items that a person uses on a daily basis, but also harmful to health but also deplete the environment.

Soap nuts as a detergent

Soap nuts are actually not a nut at all; they are in fact a berry from trees that grow in particularly in India and Nepal.  Saponins are nature’s cleansing agents that act like soap when they come in contact with water. The saponins dissolves in the water and function as detergents. The soap nuts allow water to penetrate well into the fabric thereby washing and cleaning them. The dirt is attached to the surfactant which is then drained along with the water.

An Easy Win-Win

Simple to use, cost effective, safe and “YES!” they work. Think about it. The less that we expose ourselves to chemicals, the better off we are right?  If you stop and think about the quantity of products and environmental impact we have contact our skin everyday and the conglomerate of particles that we inhale, there is no doubt we are a walking chemical slew.

With the dramatic up-swing of allergies and disease, more people every day are becoming aware of and  notice the effects of the chemicals that we are exposed to (through no fault of our own).

Long term effects of chemicals in detergents and soaps…

• Remain trapped in the clothes then create skin irritations and release harmful vapors
• Detergents contain allergy causing enzymes and dermatitis.
• Lung and heart problems can occur from the Sodium hypochlorite
• Higher risk to develop breast/prostate cancer or infertility from the nonylphenoxy ethoxylates
• Clothes wear out much faster
• Sodium hypochlorite presents in the detergents cause lung irritation, respiratory reactions, and cardiovascular damage and damage your eye and skin.

Why you should use soap nuts

Extremely Economical and Cost Saver

• They replace many products such as laundry softner, additives, and dryer sheets. Just look at the taxes alone you are saving from not having to buy so many products.

·      You save on water consumption and water softeners

·      They reduce clutter. With so many less products to buy no need for tons of storage.

·      They cut down on waste. With lots less products to buy, means less garbage to dispose of.

·      Safe for the environment and you. They are 100% biodegradable….non polluting……organic…non hypoallergenic…safe for septic systems

·      Easy to use: Can use them in their natural state, or grind them into a powder using a coffee grinder or blender. Store the whole nut, or the grindings in an air tight container.

Soap Nuts for Managing Eczema & Psoriasis

Instead of prescription medicine to manage your eczema and psoriasis, try using soap nuts liquid as it provides a completely natural and hypoallergenic laundry detergent with no chemicals for treatment. Soap nuts are so gentle on the skin that they can even be used for babies and people who develop allergies to commercially available washing products.

This is extremely helpful for people who suffer from skin disorders because many times the clothes that are being washed with conventional detergents or soaps can cause the skin condition to worsen. Soap nuts are a natural product and have a very mild and pleasant aroma. Using them as a laundry detergent instead of usual commercially available detergents is a very simple way of getting relief from these skin conditions.

How to use for Laundry, a little is a lot!

Fact:  A 1lb  bag of soap nuts hand packed in biodegradable packaging is highly capable of 160-200 loads of laundry!

1.         Put 5–6 Soap Nuts (about 1/2 oz.) into a ‘wash bag.’ 
         If desired, add in your favorite Essential Oil for extra 
         antimicrobial properties and scent.

2.         Toss bag in washing machine with dirty laundry.

3.         Reuse wash bag 4–7 times — or more. 
         (Note: Number of loads vary due to water temperature, hardness, washer type, duration of cycles, etc.)

So just how many soap nuts is enough?

Warm water causes the release of the saponin contained in the soap nuts, so base the amount according to the degree of soiling in the laundry items.

2 soap nuts for hot water, 4 for cold water or heavy staining,4-5 in hard water

(reuse soap nuts about 5 times then discard used shells in the compost bin)

Using as a liquid detergent
for everyday cleaning

Soap Nuts also are a safe replacement for many chemical-based, multi-purpose cleaners. Liquify the Soap Nuts and use the solution to clean windows, bathrooms, kitchens and floors. It can also serve as liquid hand soap, laundry soap for ultra delicates and shampoo.

“Liquid Soap Nut Soak” Recipe

1.  Bring four cups of water to a boil in a heavy sauce pan with a lid.
    2.  Turn off the heat and toss 6–8 Soap Nuts in the saucepan with 
the hot water.  
3.  Cover the sauce pan. Let it sit overnight.
    4. In the morning, remove and discard the remaining shells.
    5.     Pour the cooled liquid into a container with a lid. Give your Soap Nut Soak a scent of essential oils — lemon or tea tree oil for bathroom cleanser, lavender for cold water laundry loads, and sweet orange for dishwasher cleaning liquid.

This batch of Soap Nut Soak will 
wash at least 8 loads of laundry 
use ¹/₄ to ¹/₂ cup for each load).

For powdered soapnut crush the soapnuts in coffee grinder. Or boil soap nuts and strain the liquid then can be frozen in cubes and place in the muslin bag when needed.

Customize your Load by adding Quality Essential Oils

If you prefer a scent, you can some essential oil of choice to the soap nut wash bag before dropping it in the wash. The scent of the oil will remain. Alternately put the essential oil on a clean and absorbent cloth, and toss it in the dryer (like using a dryer sheet).

The perfect oils for the perfect scent

Give your Soap Nut Soak a scent of essential oils — 
lemon or tea tree oil for bathroom cleanser, 
lavender for cold water laundry loads, and 
sweet orange for dishwasher cleaning liquid.

SOAP NUT USE CHART

PURPOSE	RESULTS	HOW TO USE
Shampoo & conditioner	Clean, silky shiny hair, dandruff treatment	1 tsp. soap nut ground, mixed with a little water.
Body wash	Clean, healthy, soft soap free skin,	1 tsp. soap nut mixed with a little water.
Head Lice	Effectively kills lice and makes it easy to remove eggs	Same as shampoo
Dish Washing	Clean chemical free dishware	1 tsp. added to dish water
Laundry	No soap residue, chemicals, less fading, no need for fabric softener	Small net bag with a 5-6 soap nuts in it
Jewelry Cleaner	Gold, silver sparkle again	Make a paste with 1 tsp ground soap nut, and water rub on and polish
All purpose cleaner	Floors, counters, almost any surface	Boil about 1/4c.soap nut shells in 2 c. water. let simmer for 10 mins.
Pet shampoo	Gentle leaves coat clean and shiny	Same as for shampoo
Garden	Natural garden pesticide	Mix one tsp, in 2c. water

Thank You, Mother  -Nature for soap nuts.

She has given us a healthier life style for our families!

Dramatically reduced our exposure to harmful chemicals!

Give back to the  environment after meeting our needs!

PLUS! Saved us a ton of money….

$21.95 for....up to 200 washes!

You’ve Been Greenwashed!

"Aah.... with the NEW salon door wide open, FRESH AIR....as the team at Kasia Organic Salon is truly enjoying  meeting new SW MPLS neighbors, we also appreciate all of those whom travel from afar  (Ie: Big Lake, St. Criox, Farmington, more!)  investing in their health and  NEW BEAUTY.

Did you catch Kasia on WCCO NEWS?

Approaching   'Earth Day,' our company commits to continually being sustainable, resourceful,  and educating our guests and readers of what the potential of  what  "Green" truly is.

********

Kasia Loose Leaf, Artisan,  Fair Trade Tea's are the latest best seller! 50 Cups per 4 Oz!

*********

APRIL EVENTS

HORMONE'S -  A REDEFINING APPROACH TO WOMEN'S HEALTH

Sunday, APRIL 18th 4-6 pm

RVSP HERE

&

25% OFF a Nontoxique hand cleanser * Drop Off!

Wednesday, April 21 2pm – 8pm

Stop by Kasia Orgaic Salon and drop of your toxic antibacterial hand soap or just take a few minutes to learn more. Your trade in will redeem 25% OFF a Nontoxique hand cleanser!  Plus meet  fabulous Sheila, owner of NONTOXIQUE!

*********

Enjoy our "Informed Beauty" article (ALSO found in May's Issue of TC Natural Magazine!)

You’ve Been Greenwashed!

How to Make the Best Natural and Organic Product Choices

“Green or Eco-friendly packaging, ingredients, soil, and sourcing?  How do we ensure that each of us can make a difference in health and sustainability in our own, personal way?“

Did you know that most consumer personal care and lifestyle products have a high number of harmful chemicals and additives that can negatively affect your health, hair, skin, and body? With that in mind, it is so important to put critical thought into the products you are using, especially since any ingredients within your personal care  products can be absorbed into your body to negatively affect your circulatory system.

The first thing to take into consideration is the type of product you are purchasing. Kassie, owner of Minneapolis’ first natural and organic salon, screens all products first for their ingredients and long term safety, followed by their finishing results for the consumer.  As pioneer(s), Kasia Organic Salon is proud to "educate women, build trust, and cut through the greenwashing."

Within the growing buzz of eco-friendly awareness,  there are products that may unfortunately claim to be green when they truly don't live up to expectations. This process is called greenwashing.

What Is Greenwashing?

For a product to be labeled as natural and organic, it is so important that it lives up to strict standards to ensure that all ingredients are safe and usable. It is difficult to differentiate which products may be the best since many seals look similar or are regulated by different agencies. Greenwashing refers to a product that claims to be green or eco-friendly, but unfortunately, may not live up to strict standards in safety. A greenwashed product may use clever advertising to appear natural, though it still may not contain ingredients that are certified as organic.

Examples of a Greenwash:

ý Clairol is an example of a company that claims to offer a "truly organic experience" with its Herbal Essences line of shampoos but, according to the report, uses chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, and D&C red no. 33, which are not organic. (The report notes that Clairol does use some organic ingredients, does not test on animals, and uses 25 percent post-consumer recycled plastic in its bottles.)

ý Tyson Chicken promotes its products as "all natural," even though the company treats its chicken with antibiotics.

Be an Educated Consumer!

These days, the savvy consumer must keep in mind that many product lines are playing into the eco-friendly and green market to meet their bottom line motives. To further educate yourself, it is best to look for trustworthy certifications to guarantee that a product is safe and organic to protect the health of your body and the health of your skin!

Taking Steps Toward Improvement

According to the website bsdglobal.com, “Understanding the demographics of green consumerism helps business owners to explore the environmental market. Research has shown that green consumers are sincere in their intentions, with a growing commitment to greener lifestyles; almost always judge their environmental practices as inadequate; do not expect companies to be perfect in order to be considered ‘green’. Rather, they look for companies that are taking substantive steps and have made a commitment to improve.”

What to Look for:

ý    Look for the top two product seals to certify green ingredients: USDA and the Green Seal. (Try USDA certified Mercola Healthy Skin products and Simple Green certified cleaning products.)

ý    Read all ingredient labels carefully to make sure that chemical and preservative ingredients are not included. (Avoid chemical ingredients in Cover Girl, L’Oreal, and Maybelline.)

ý    Look for products that are cruelty free and not tested on animals. (Try Hamadi Hair Care and La Bella Donna Minerals.)

ý    Look for concentrated cleaning products that contain less water and use less energy to produce. 

ý    Avoid all aerosol products, which can be dangerous to users and the environment. (Avoid Redken Forceful 23 Hairspray and Aussie Flexible Control Mega Hair Spray.)

ý    Look for recycled product containers, which may not be the most attractive, but minimize the impact on the environment.

ý    Use online resources to find certified green products at www.greenpeople.org and cruelty free products at www.navs.org.

What About the Claim “Au-Naturale”?

Everyone should be familiar with the “all-natural” claim.  Most people assume that “all-natural” or “naturally-pure” means safe, good, or green, but unfortunately, this is not always the case.

"Natural" on a package doesn't necessarily mean a product is good for the Earth.

Chemicals and pesticides come from nature. Aveeno Active Naturals body lotions, for example, contain oatmeal and come in earth-toned bottles printed with plant leaves, but the products are also made with petrolatum, a byproduct of petroleum, which is a finite resource whose processing pollutes the air and water.

Unless a specific definition or explanation is offered, this claim is committing one of Environmental Marketing’s Seven Sins of Greenwashing - the Sin of Vagueness, claims Co. TerraChoice.  In this study launched in 2009, researchers found that 27% of supposedly “green” cleaning products studied in the U.S. were committing the Sin of Vagueness.

Companies and consumers should keep in mind that there is no such thing as a perfectly “green” product: environmentally preferable products are “greener”, not “green.” Environmental progress will happen one step at a time, and individuals have an enormous ability to help demand and shape the marketplace to require greater measures taken in safety and transparency.

Now that sounds like a “natural” solution, doesn’t it?

Kassie Kuehl is a respected leader and educator in natural health and beauty care. The founder of Kasia Organic Salon and many result orientated "beautiful health" products, and experts in ammonia free hair color.  Kasia remains on the cutting edge of all-natural, chemical free, and organic professional hair, skin, and body products and services.

Become an Informed Beauty, contact Kassie at 612.824.7611

or visit www.kasiaorganicsalon.com

....continue to become an informed beauty, and to not settle for anything less than total transparency, accountability, and commitment to quality, safety, and effectiveness. You--and your skin--deserve the best of everything in holistic beauty and health.

You’ve Been Greenwashed A look beyond “Packaged Innovation”

How to Make the Best Natural and Organic Product Choices

“Green or Eco-friendly packaging, ingredients, soil, and sourcing?  How do we ensure that each of us can make a difference in health and sustainability in our own, personal way?“

Did you know that most consumer personal care and lifestyle products have a high number of harmful chemicals and additives that can negatively affect your health, hair, skin, and body? With that in mind, it is so important to put critical thought into the products you are using, especially since any ingredients within your personal care  products can be absorbed into your body to negatively affect your circulatory system.

The first thing to take into consideration is the type of product you are purchasing. Kassie, owner of Minneapolis’ first natural and organic salon, screens all products first for their ingredients and long term safety, followed by their finishing results for the consumer.  As pioneer(s), Kasia Organic Salon is proud to "educate women, build trust, and cut through the greenwashing."

Within the growing buzz of eco-friendly awareness,  there are products that may unfortunately claim to be green when they truly don't live up to expectations. This process is called greenwashing.

What Is Greenwashing?

For a product to be labeled as natural and organic, it is so important that it lives up to strict standards to ensure that all ingredients are safe and usable. It is difficult to differentiate which products may be the best since many seals look similar or are regulated by different agencies. Greenwashing refers to a product that claims to be green or eco-friendly, but unfortunately, may not live up to strict standards in safety. A greenwashed product may use clever advertising to appear natural, though it still may not contain ingredients that are certified as organic.

Examples of a Greenwash:

ý       Clairol is an example of a company that claims to offer a "truly organic experience" with its Herbal Essences line of shampoos but, according to the report, uses chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, and D&C red no. 33, which are not organic. (The report notes that Clairol does use some organic ingredients, does not test on animals, and uses 25 percent post-consumer recycled plastic in its bottles.)

ý       Tyson Chicken promotes its products as "all natural," even though the company treats its chicken with antibiotics.

Be an Educated Consumer!

These days, the savvy consumer must keep in mind that many product lines are playing into the eco-friendly and green market to meet their bottom line motives. To further educate yourself, it is best to look for trustworthy certifications to guarantee that a product is safe and organic to protect the health of your body and the health of your skin!

Taking Steps Toward Improvement

According to the website bsdglobal.com, “Understanding the demographics of green consumerism helps business owners to explore the environmental market. Research has shown that green consumers are sincere in their intentions, with a growing commitment to greener lifestyles; almost always judge their environmental practices as inadequate; do not expect companies to be perfect in order to be considered ‘green’. Rather, they look for companies that are taking substantive steps and have made a commitment to improve.”

What to Look for:

ý    Look for the top two product seals to certify green ingredients: USDA and the Green Seal are the most credible.

ý    Read all ingredient labels carefully to make sure that chemical and preservative ingredients are not included.

ý    Look for products that are cruelty free and not tested on animals.

ý    Look for concentrated cleaning products that contain less water and use less energy to produce.

ý    Avoid all aerosol products, which can be dangerous to users and the environment.

ý    Look for recycled product containers, which may not be the most attractive, but minimize the impact on the environment.

What About the Claim “Au-Naturale”?

Everyone should be familiar with the “all-natural” claim.  Most people assume that “all-natural” or “naturally-pure” means safe, good, or green, but unfortunately, this is not always the case.

"Natural" on a package doesn't necessarily mean a product is good for the Earth.

Buyer Beware, Buyer Confusion.

Chemicals and pesticides come from nature. Aveeno Active Naturals body lotions, for example, contain oatmeal and come in earth-toned bottles printed with plant leaves, but the products are also made with petrolatum, a byproduct of petroleum, which is a finite resource whose processing pollutes the air and water.

Unless a specific definition or explanation is offered, this claim is committing one of Environmental Marketing’s Seven Sins of Greenwashing - the Sin of Vagueness, claims Co. TerraChoice.  In this study launched in 2009, researchers found that 27% of supposedly “green” cleaning products studied in the U.S. were committing the Sin of Vagueness.

Companies and consumers should keep in mind that there is no such thing as a perfectly “green” product: environmentally preferable products are “greener”, not “green.” Environmental progress is important and will happen one step at a time. Individuals have an enormous ability to help demand and shape the marketplace to require greater measures taken in the concers of ingredient safety and transparency.

Now that sounds like a “natural” solution, doesn’t it?

Kassie Kuehl is a respected leader and educator in natural health and beauty care. The founder of Kasia Organic Salon and many result orientated "beautiful health" products, and experts in ammonia free hair color.  Kasia remains on the cutting edge of all-natural, non-toxic, and organic professional hair, skin, and body products and services. To become an Informed Beauty, contact Kassie at 612.386.4044, or visit www.kasiaorganicsalon.com.

Xenobiotics and Beautiful Health

Are you aware of what you are putting in your body or on your body? Do you know what most pesticides, herbicides and fungicides contain?

"NO?" Than you will be able to say yes by the end of this blog topic.

Let's spread some light about xenobiotics, what they are, what they are in, how they have an affect on the body and burden it over time, the many diseases and disorders linked to them and how to detoxify your body from them.

What Are Xenoiotics?

Xenobiotics are a foreign substance, derived from petroleum oil, that originate outside the human body, have hormone like and estrogen like activity in the body, and thus a profound impact on hormone balance. The molecular structure of a petrochemical contains the basic "key" to the hormone receptor "ignition " of the cell switching on the hormonal action, thus behaving as potent estrogens.

How does this concern you?

Estrogen in general tends to promote cell division, particularly in hormone-sensitive tissue such as breast and uterine lining, this is why they cause cancer. Now there are several reasons why women in particular suffer from estrogen dominance, some of them being birth control, menopause, pregnancy, increased stress levels, etc. but without getting into that what I would like to do is recognize that in line with the already high levels of estrogen to progesterone imbalances people are suffering from, we are swimming in a sea environmental xenoestrogens (xenobiotics)

The longer these foreign substances stay in the body the more opportunity they have to do damage. The bottom line is that the body has to detoxify these chemicals every day and over time this can become a burden.

How do they get into our bodies?

One source of oral intake of xenoestrogens is by way of animal fats , particularly red meat and dairy fats. Not only are these animals exposed to estrogenic substances as a means to fatten them up for market, they are further exposed to petrochemical pesticide, herbicides, and fungicides, potent xenobiotics, by way of the grains they eat. Billions of pounds of these substances are dumped on our fruits and vegetables every year.

Other common sources of xenobiotics are found in:

· Solvents and adhesive found in nail polish, paint removers and glue

· Emulsifiers and waxes found in soaps and cosmetics

· Nearly all plastics (ex. baby bottles, Tupperware, water bottles, food wrapped or packed in plastic, medicines

· Waste from sewage treatment plants

· Synthetic estrogens and progestins found in the urine of millions of women taking birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy that is flushed down the toilet and eventually works its way into the food chain

What are some things you can do to reduce your exposure to these harmful substances?

Now that you have a better understanding as to how these foreign substances may be getting into your body lets explore some things you can do to reduce your exposure.

1. First take a saliva lab (this test the active form of hormones vs blood which tests the inactive) to find out the cycle of all your hormones.

2. Eat organic fruits and vegetables, the more we, as consumers, demand organic produce the more likely it will be grown that way. Studies show that organic fruits and vegetables contain 50-80% more nutrients than conventionally raised produce

3. Eat hormone free, antibiotic free, free range meats and dairy products. Toxins are stored in fats and keep in mind that "you are what you eat"

4. Use alternative ways to garden in your homes. There are several simple, easy and cost effective methods of organic gardening and pest control.

5. Because it is so difficult to identify which plastics contain high levels of xenobiotics assume all do. Eliminate all plastic from your house. Use pyrex glassware, stainless steal water bottles, get drinking water delivered to your house or use a filtration system, eat organic and hormone free foods, switch to essential oils or organic hygiene, and household cleaning products.

6. GO GREEN!

7. If you are on a birth control or Rx medication, start to educate yourself on what this does to your gut, immune system, hormonal system...your entire body! The body is a system of systems and nothing is linear when you take it.

8. Start reading food labels so you know what you are putting in your body. You would be surprised how much of what you eat is 95% chemicals!

Some arguments:

1. It is in such a small amount, which will have no affect on us humans?

What we are not taking into account is the many ways we are being exposed to the EVERY day of EVERY year. So it is not the small amount, it is the sum of the small amounts and the overloading of the detoxification system of the body that makes them so harmful.

2. How are we supposed to eat, heat things up, drink water out of, etc?

a. Eat out of: use pyrex glassware b. Heating things up: use stove top, toaster oven or oven c. Bottles: You can use bottles from SIGG or from Canteen.com, which are stainless steel. d. Water: install a sink, fridge or entire house hold filtration system

Symptoms of Xenoestrogens:

Some symptoms include but are not limited to:

Allergies, decreased libido, depression, fatigue, water retention, infertility, miscarriage, osteoporosis, fat gain around the hips, waist and thighs, breast and cervical cancers, early menstruation cycles for young girls.... for more information visit www.drjohnleemd.com.

Reference: East/West Natural Health & Dr. John Lee