Did you know that antiperspirants are NOT good for you? And that if you're using an antiperspirant deodorant then you could be making yourself unhealthy without even realising? 

Bummer, right!? 

Antiperspirants stop you from healthy sweating by blocking your pores like a plug. Then most (like an unwanted party guest) leave aluminium salts in your lovely self. Boo to that.

Aluminium isn’t normally found in your body so a big red flag is raised when researchers find it in our body tissue. Research shows that your body absorbs aluminium, and your antiperspirant could be a cause of this. 

Aluminium is a neurotoxin and it has links to increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It has also been found to disrupt your endocrine system by mimicking the hormone estrogen. Anything that can do this raises alarm bells in the breast cancer world.

It’s also the culprit for staining your clothes yellow and is only 20-50% effective at stopping sweating (even the clinical strength ones). Really makes you wonder if it’s worth using at all!

Don’t worry, there is an alternative :) But first - you don’t want to actually be stopping yourself from sweating.

This Easter, why not mix it up from the usual chocolate eggs with something perhaps even more delicious - chocolate dipped strawberries. And we are talking vegan, dairy free, gluten free, refined sugar free, cacao rich fruity deliciousness that's fresh and healthy - plus won't send your kids on the dreaded sugar high!

Enjoy our simple recipe below which is quick and easy, with only 4-5 ingredients.

Healthy Vegan Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• ⅓ cup raw cacao powder
• 1-2 tablespoons natural sweetener such as raw honey, grade A maple syrup, coconut nectar or agave 
• 1 punnet of strawberries

Optional:

• 1-2 tablespoons desiccated coconut or crushed almonds (to set on outside of chocolate coating) 

Instructions

1. Rinse strawberries and pat dry. Place them in the freezer for 5 minutes so they are extra cold.
2. Meanwhile gently warm the coconut oil on very low heat, just enough to bring it to liquid form. If your coconut oil is already in a liquid state, you can skip this part.
3. In a small bowl mix together coconut oil, raw cacao and natural sweetener until a smooth, thick sauce forms. Make sure to add the amount of natural sweetener to taste.
4. Dip strawberries into the cacao sauce mix, holding onto the leaves of the strawberries. Slowly roll the chocolate around the edges of the strawberry until the chocolate stops dripping. The cooler the strawberries are, the quicker the chocolate coating will set and make this easier!
5. Optional: if you wish to crust them with the desiccated coconut or crushed almonds, wait until the chocolate coating is semi-set then gently dab into the toppings so it sticks.
6. Place each dipped strawberry onto parchment paper and refrigerate until firmly set.
7. Store in the fridge and enjoy!

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It's easy to jump into the New Year or a new health program with full gusto for achieving your goals, but as times goes on, what you set out to do often falls wayside until you find yourself completely off track.

Follow these simple 4 steps to ticking your boxes off with a smile on your face.

Create small and measurable goals.

You may have a goal in your mind's eye such as to "become healthier" or "lose weight". Both are wonderful goals but are either too general by themselves. Breaking your goals or resolutions down into specific and attainable parts will help keep you focused, on track and motivated.

For example, if you want to lose weight, you can make it more specific by having a target in mind, such as fitting into your old jeans, and then break it down into smaller parts that will help you achieve the overall outcome, such as cutting out processed foods and moving your body for 30 minutes every day. If you want to improve your health in general, create smaller aspects to this, such as adding a green smoothie or juice each morning or meditating for 10 minutes daily, and begin working on these to bring the process about, rather than feeling overwhelmed.

Write it down.

Putting pen to paper is a great way to map out your wellness goals. Often the act of writing down what you want to achieve is the first step, like a promise to yourself. Display reminders and encouragement in places that you know will support you. Write your goals as affirmations, such as "I am a healthy weight and happy", "I have abundance in my life" or "I am successful in my own business." Whatever it may be, write it down. If you're following a health program, aligning this with the themes of each week can be a great help to keeping you on track until the end!

Practice the law of attraction.

The law of attraction states that what you put out into the world must come back to you. Don't base your happiness on something you will only have "when" you fulfil your resolutions. Instead, choose to be happy right now. Let yourself feel the joy you will have when you reach a healthy weight or have more energy because your body is healthier and mind less stressed. Imagine it and let yourself feel as if you have already received it in your life. According to best selling author of The Secret and The Power, Rhonda Bryne, by doing this you are attracting the very thing you desire to you, like a magnet. It's amazing the power of changing your thoughts and feelings can actually have on your entire life.

Keep yourself accountable. 

Tell your loved ones about your wellness goals and plans. Ask them to support you and help keep you on track. Sometimes it's easy to lose sight of our true dreams and true priorities when the rush of everyday life takes over. Having a friend, family member or partner there to remind you and cheer you on can be just the support you need to keep aiming at that target!

Looking after my skin is something I do every day. I’m in the sun and outdoor elements all the time. I don’t like to use chemical based skin care and opt for organic and animal-friendly products.  

How I keep it clear…

I'm on the go a lot of the time but I always have my basic routine:

Face cleanse/wash upon rising. 

I always wash my face when I get up, if I have more time or if the surf is not pumping, I’ll do a cleanse, but I find the salty cold water does the trick for a good cleanse. 

Face serum morning and night.

This helps with my hydration and is so quick and easy to travel with. 

Sunscreen.

I use either an organic/chemical free sunscreen or a zinc. I rarely use sunscreen and opt for shirts or zinc, but when I do, I try to steer clear of the cheap nasty ones! And I don't leave it on, once I’m out of the water, it comes off straight off with the facial Wotnot wipes.

Good food.

Many people forget that good skin starts from the inside out. It’s not always a topical ointment or application that will fix it, but more so suppress the problem. The care products are there to assist and help you nourish your skin but don't forget that it can all start with what you consume.

Hydrate.

I drink lemon water when I wake up and carry water with me all the time! Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Have me time!

I love to cook and surf. These are both my chill out times and times when I am less stressed. I love cooking for the family and bringing everyone together. Stress is a killer and I can't express enough to have a bit of downtime to do what you love. Which leads me to my last tip.

Treat yourself!

I get a facial once a month, and I love it, my skin loves it, and its a time where I can just chill and get my skin looking good. I'm in the sun and surf all the time so its much needed. Find your favourite place and treat your self!

How I start my day...

My days get pretty busy when I look at them. I start with a face wash and lemon water on rising leading into;

• A quick stretch
• surf check, surf for an hour and a half
• maybe yoga if the surf is bad
• train
• surf again
• work
• uni till 930pm sometimes
• study, assignments
• blog - cook, recipe experiments

And REPEAT.