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Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts

Friday, May 28, 2021

Kandio Non Contact Infrared Sensor Thermometer Reviewed

At the beginning of the pandemic, I realized I didn't have a very good thermometer in my home. All of our existing thermometers were decades old and took temperature in the ear or mouth. Because we were warned about how easy it was for the virus to spread, I decided we needed a no touch thermometer.

I promptly went to Amazon and bought a no contact infrared thermometer. After waiting weeks for it to be delivered, it didn't work at all upon arrival. I returned that one and ordered another one that was available.

Again, I had to wait weeks. Upon arrival, the second thermometer would turn on, but it definitely did not show correct temperatures. Not only were the readings way too low, but they were inconsistent. I returned that thermometer too. What seemed apparent to me was that there was a lot of trash being sold on the market and the sellers were price gouging.

Both of those thermometers exceeded $100 price tag, but I really wanted, actually felt we needed, a no touch thermometer. I was quite frustrated and had no idea how I could get a working non contact sensor thermometer. Frankly, I was wary of ordering another one so I ordered from a different site. Same results!

After 3 unsatisfactory orders, I gave up on buying the thermometer online. I had expressed my frustration to my husband and clearly he was listening because one day he came home with the Kandio No Contact Infrared Sensor Thermometer and it works!!!

He purchased ours at our local independent pharmacy. It was in the window when he drove by. He spotted it and promptly bought one for our household. Pretty awesome and greatly appreciated!

Before writing this review, I checked the major online sites and couldn't find anyone carrying the Kandio thermometer, but I do see there are sellers on Ebay carrying them.

My recommendation, don't waste your money and time on others! Seek out the Kandio Non Contact Infrared Sensor Thermometer.

The Kandio Non Contact Infrared Sensor Thermometer

Below is the information on the thermometer that my husband bought for us. Along with the model number, I am sharing what we paid for ours so you know if you are getting a fair price or not.

Model: GDTWQ36

Our Kandio thermometer cost: $59.99

Temperature is taken by aiming the thermometer at the forehead (1 - 2 inches away) and squeezing the trigger button on the handle. Therefore, the thermometer never touches the "patient" and you can easily stand an arms length away.

Fast, accurate reading in 1 second
Large, easy to read display screen
Back-lit display (you don't have to disturb patients rest)
Beeps when temperate is taken
Auto Shut-off after 1 minute
2 AAA batteries required

This has been the only reliable no contact thermometer that I have found available. How about you? Have you found a reliable no touch/non contact thermometer? If so, please share the thermometer product information in the comments below. We want everyone to be able to check and monitor their own temperature accurately.

Stay Safe & Healthy!

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

14 Secrets to Growing Strong, Healthy, Beautiful Nails

Weak, fragile, ridged, peeling, flaking or splitting nails are unsightly, embarrassing and sometimes painful. The same is true of cracked, ragged, torn, chewed, or puffy cuticles. I know this because I spent much of my adult life feeling self-conscious about my visibly damaged nails and dry cuticles, and searching for effective ways to improve their length, strength, and appearance. I described the extent of that damage, as well as the remarkable results I have been able to achieve so far, in my recent review and recommendations for choosing the best manicure (and pedicure) tools,

In today’s post, I am sharing the things I have done to dramatically improve the strength, flexibility, and appearance of my damaged fingernails and toenails.

Before I reveal these 14 secrets to growing strong, healthy, beautiful nails, I will offer three important considerations to provide context for these proven strategies.

The nail plate—the visible, hard surface to which nail polish is applied—is hardened, flattened, compressed layers of dead keratin protein cells. (That's why it doesn't hurt or bleed when you clip or cut the free edge, unless you accidentally trim too close to the quick.)
The only living tissue is the deeper layer (dermis) of the skin beneath the nail plate (aka the nail bed) and the fold of skin cells at the base of the natural nail plate (aka the nail fold) that produce the cuticle.
So, the best way to achieve lasting improvements to the strength, flexibility and appearance of damaged nails is to focus on nourishing and protecting the nail bed and nail fold, keeping the cuticle and surrounding skin moisturized, and protecting the nail plate as much as possible from absorbing excess water.

Tip: The Nail (anatomy) Wikipedia page provides a helpful, high-level overview of the nails' structure and parts, function and clinical significance.

1. Protect and heal your cuticles, so they can protect you.

Picking at, biting or cutting your cuticles can open the door to bacteria or fungi, causing an infection that not only will make your cuticles look worse, but also can lead to permanent nail bed damage. Dana Stern, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City who specializes in nail health, explained in a Q&A for Nails magazine, “Cuticles serve as the nail’s natural protective seal. They are next to the most important part of the nail—the nail matrix—and protect the matrix from bacteria and infection. Any trauma to the cuticle area (cutting, biting, picking) can affect the matrix and ultimately lead to irregularities in the nail. Instead, push cuticles back gently and use a cuticle oil or cuticle cream to keep them hydrated and healthy.”

If you have a hangnail, don't pull, tear or bite the off. Remove it right after showering or shampooing, when the dead skin has been softened. If it is next to the side of the nail, file it off with a glass file. If it is at the bottom or corner, use a sterilized cuticle nipper to carefully nip off just the base of the loose, dead skin. Avoid nipping any live tissue. Then use a glass nail file to smooth the clipped root so it doesn't catch or snag on fabrics, etc., and you aren't tempted to pick at or pull on it. I recently discovered that using a Germanikure glass cuticle pusher, which I can hold in a “pencil grip,” gives me much better control when I am smoothing hangnails or calluses.

2. Moisturize your cuticles and nail bed.

The nail bed is the living tissue directly under the nail plate, which extends beyond the cuticle. A well moisturized nail bed is one of the keys to improving the nails’ health, strength and appearance. It not only makes the cuticles smoother and less prone to cracking (which can let damaging bacteria and fungi in), but also makes the nails stronger, more flexible and less prone to chipping, cracking or splitting.

To keep these areas moisturized, apply cuticle oil, serum and/or cream, then slowly and thoroughly massage the oil into your cuticles and the surrounding skin. Do this every morning and just before bed, at a minimum, and preferably after showering, bathing, shampooing, or washing your hands in hot, soapy water, or using hand sanitizer. It’s a good idea to moisturize your cuticles and the surrounding skin again after washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, windows, etc., or doing other “wet work” without wearing rubber gloves, and especially if you use household cleaners containing harsh chemicals. If you don’t want to keep multiple bottles, applicators or jars of cuticle oil or cuticle cream in different parts of your house, you can keep one in your bedside stand or table and keep hand cream or lotion near the sinks to massage into your hands and cuticles after getting them wet.

Tip: If your cuticles are very dry and in rough shape, I highly recommend splurging on Deborah Lippmann's The Cure cuticle cream intensive cuticle treatment therapy, which won Allure’s Best of Beauty Award for four consecutive years. I have been using it for many years, and even though I have tried several other highly rated cuticle creams during that time, this rich formula consistently gives me noticeably softer, smoother cuticles and must faster results that, for me, are worth the premium price.

3. Keep your fingernails dry.

When fingernails and toenails absorb water, they soften and swell. As a result, the thin, translucent keratin layers on the surface can separate, which leads to peeling and flaking. Avoid keeping your hands in warm or hot water—especially hot, soapy water—except when you wash your hands, bathe or shower and shampoo your hair.

Also, paradoxically, keeping your hands or feet submerged in hot, soapy water dehydrates the living tissue, including the dermis layer of the nail bed and the nail fold. That’s why it’s important to massage in a cuticle oil, serum or cream (or at least a moisturizing hand cream or lotion) right after washing your hands or emerging from the tub or shower.

Protect your nails and keep them dry by wearing cotton-lined latex or rubber dishwashing gloves for washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, and other "wet work," and wear gardening gloves while working or playing in the dirt.

4. Clean your nails gently.

Don't use a cuticle stick or other pointed tool that can dig into the quick and open it to bacterial or fungal infections. Instead, scrub the fronts and backs of your nails gently with a wet nail brush and gentle hand soap.

5. Avoid or limit contact with harsh chemicals when cleaning.

When doing housework (including washing dishes) or laundry, minimize contact with harsh chemicals, by wearing rubber gloves whenever possible and, ideally, swapping traditional household cleaning products and laundry detergents for cleaners that don't contain harsh or potentially harmful chemicals. I highly recommend Puracy's natural cleaning products, which have perform as well as, and often even better than, the popular, big-name cleaners I had used in the past.

6. Use nail hardeners sparingly, if at all.

These products can make nails more brittle and, therefore, more prone to breaking. Nail hardeners can give the illusion of strong nails, but with continued use most can do more damage than good. They should only be considered for nails that are exceptionally weak or fragile, and not for long-term use.

One exception that I can recommend is Color Street Nail Strengthener, a 3-in-1 base coat, top coat and strengthener that strengthens nails without making them brittle. You can purchase Color Street products, including their nail strengthener, through a Color Street stylist, such as my friend and fellow Review This Reviews contributor Olivia Morris.

7. Use nail polish to repel water and prevent peeling and splitting nails.

Wearing polish not only creates the appearance of more beautiful nails, it can also protect them. In the May 2020 Bustle post “5 Affordable Nail Polishes That Are Actually GOOD For Your Nails,” Dr. Stern explained that, but also can protect nails by helping to prevent the absorption of water, and because polish “binds the nail cells together, so nails are less likely to fray and split.”

Dr. Stern recommended “10-free” polishes, which don’t contain any of the 10 potentially harmful chemicals most often used in polish formulas. I have tried several 10-free nail polish brands and formulas, and Zoya nail polish is one of my favorites in this category.

It’s also worth noting that the authors of the November 2019 Harvard Health blog post “A look at the effects of nail polish on nail health and safety” wrote, “There is no strong research data regarding whether the chemicals excluded from non-toxic polishes have harmful health effects at the concentrations present in traditional nail polish.”

For the past few years I have been wearing Color Street nail polish strips almost exclusively, rather than liquid nail polish. Read more about these wonderful nail polish strips in Olivia's Color Street nail polish strips product review.

8. Never try to flake, peel or scrape off your nail polish.

Although applying basecoat, polish and topcoat can provide some protection and aid with maintaining or growing strong nails, wearing that lacquer will do much more harm than good if it isn’t removed gently by rubbing (not scrubbing) with a cotton ball or pad soaked in acetone-free nail polish remover.

Removers whose primary ingredient is acetone are essentially slightly diluted versions of paint stripper, and while those powerful solvents are effective and efficient, they are exactly the type of harsh, drying, potentially harmful chemicals that you want to avoid. Peeling or (even worse) scraping is even worse. Because lacquer is bonded to the surface of the nail plate, the top layers of keratin are removed along with the polish, leaving them even thinner, weaker and more fragile than before the protective coating was applied.

So, if you want to achieve or maintain healthy nails, but you either can’t resist the urge to pick at or peel off your polish or don’t have the patience to remove it slowly and gently with acetone-free nail polish remover and cotton, you're probably better off leaving your nails bare.

Experts also advise removing polish no more than once a week (especially if you are using an acetone-based remover.)

Tips for Using Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover:

I have found that Mineral Fusion and the new acetone-free Color Street Nail Polish Remover work better job than other acetone-free formulas I have tried. However, even the best acetone-free nail polish removers are less aggressive and need more time to soften and dissolve layers of dried lacquer. Try to be patient and resist the temptation to speed up the process by rubbing harder or scrubbing.

If you applied a topcoat, start by scuffing the surface slightly with a few gentle strokes of a coarse salon board, just enough to start dulling the shine a bit. Lightly saturate a cotton ball or pad with acetone-free nail polish remover (so it’s evenly wet, but not dripping) and hold it against the nail for at least 60 seconds before you try to wipe off the polish. Repeat, if necessary, to remove any remaining polish.

I also recommend keeping a few HandsDown Ultra nail and cosmetic pads on hand for removing polish from just one or two nails without putting the rest of them at risk, thanks to the poly film backing and tab “handle.” that keeps the other nails away from the pad and remover.

Polishes containing chunky glitter are much harder to get off (even with an acetone-based formula. The easiest and gentlest way to remove it is saturate small or mini size cotton balls (or large cotton balls cut or torn in half) with the acetone-free remover and use acrylic nail and polish remover clips to hold a mini cotton ball firmly against each nail. In my experience, it usually takes between three and eight minutes to remove glitter polish this way (and significantly less with an acetone-based formula), depending on how many layers of base coat, glitter polish, and topcoat I’m wearing.

9. Keep your nails trimmed and the edges smooth.

Use a glass nail file to smooth out and help seal the edges of the keratin layers to avoid snagging and reduce the chances of breakage. A fine glass nail file is the only type that can be used safely on both the “push” and “pull” stroke, without the risk causing flaking, peeling or splitting nails. (Any other type of nail file or salon board must be used only on the “push” stroke, going from the outer corner toward the center in only one direction, and lifting and repositioning the file to begin each new stroke, to minimize potential loosening of the keratin layers.)

I recently ordered a few more glass nail files so I could keep one in every room of the house (as well as in my purse and our cars), to help me smooth any rough edges, snags or hangnails as soon as I notice them (and avoid the nervous habit of picking at or pulling on them and making things worse). I decided to try a set of Germanikure Czech glass nail files that come with sturdy, protective, suede leather soft cases. (The company also offers velvet soft cases as a vegan alternative.) The set includes a large file, a smaller, travel-size file, a glass callus remover/heel smoother, and the glass cuticle pusher I prefer to the nail file for smoothing hangnails, rough skin or calluses on my fingers. All the tools in this set are made from a thicker tempered glass than most others I’ve tried, and everything from the tools themselves to the suede leather cases to the packaging demonstrates an attention to detail and a commitment to high quality. I also got a pair of Germanikure Professional Stainless Steel Nail Scissors made in Solingen, Germany, which are also of superior quality. I can highly recommend this company’s products.

10. Eat a nutritious “rainbow” diet that includes foods high in vitamin C, biotin and folic acid (folate).

People who eat a healthy diet with plenty of vitamin C may have smoother, softer skin. One possible reason: Because vitamin C is an antioxidant, it can help protect your skin from free radicals. These break down oils, proteins, and even DNA. Vitamin C is found naturally in vegetables and fruits, especially oranges and other citrus fruits.

Some research studies have found that biotin can strengthen fingernails and make them grow faster. Clinical trials have shown that taking biotin orally can make brittle nails firmer, harder, and thicker, and there is also some evidence that oral biotin may improve vertically ridged nails (a condition known as trachyonychia). You can find biotin in a variety of foods, such as eggs, fish, meat, seeds, nuts, and vegetables.

A folate (vitamin B9) deficiency can contribute to ridged, weak, brittle or peeling nails. The term folate can mean not only the folate that is found naturally in food but also folic acid, the form of the vitamin used in dietary supplements and enriched foods. To increase your consumption of folate-rich foods, you can eat more leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables (e.g., kale, spinach, arugula, broccoli, Brussels sprouts), asparagus, beets, citrus fruits, avocado, bananas, papaya, melons, eggs, legumes including beans, peas, and lentils, walnuts, almonds, flax seeds, wheat germ, beef liver, and vitamin-fortified and enriched products, including some breads, pasta, cereals, and juices.

Sources:

Lipner, Shari & Scher, Richard. (2017). Biotin for the Treatment of Nail Disease: What is the Evidence?. Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 29. 1-17. [10.1080/09546634.2017.1395799].

Health Benefits of Biotin, WebMD.

“15 Healthy Foods That Are High in Folate (Folic Acid)," Healthline.

11. Consider biotin supplements and folic acid supplements.

Research studies have found that oral biotin supplements can increase nail thickness and prevent splitting and breaking. If your nails are especially thin and week, you might want to ask your doctor about prescribing a stronger, therapeutic dose of biotin, which has resulted in significant improvements in people with severe nail problems.

Source: WebMD. (2006, December 16). A Dozen Tips for More Beautiful Nails. [https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/more-beautiful-nails-a-dozen-tips]

You also might also want to consider trying a folic acid supplement. WebMD’s supplement guide to folate (folic acid) [https://www.webmd.com/diet/supplement-guide-folic-acid] provides guidance on the USDA’s Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), as well as the maximum amount that most people can take safely on their own, although a doctor might prescribe a higher dose for treating a folate deficiency. Source: WebMD. (2020, July 26). Folate (Folic Acid). [https://www.webmd.com/diet/supplement-guide-folic-acid]

Note: I recommend asking your doctor before taking any supplement.

12. Don't use your nails as tools.

This is one of the most important secrets to growing strong, healthy, more beautiful nails. It’s also the one I have the hardest time keeping in mind during my day-to-day activities!

13. Don’t forget your toenails.

All these secrets for growing strong, healthy nails apply equally to fingernails and toenails. It’s especially important to disinfect pedicure tools after each use, since fungus can grow more easily on toenails that are enclosed in the dark, moist environment of shoes or slippers for many hours each day. Also, to reduce the risk of ingrown toenails, cutting toenails straight across—not at an angle—is a must.

14. Save salon manicures and pedicures for special occasions and bring your own tools.

There is no doubt that a professional salon mani or pedi can quickly give you the appearance of more beautiful nails, at least in the short term. However, while a salon visit might be an affordable indulgence, you also need to consider the hidden cost of the cumulative damage to the strength and health of your nails.

“Water content and other aspects of brittle versus normal fingernails” a study by Dr. Stern and colleagues at Mount Sinai published in 2007 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, found that the odds of having brittle nails was more than three times greater among participants who received a professional manicure, and that the likelihood of having brittle nails was linked to the frequency of having professional manicures. Possible reasons include exposure to more chemicals and harsher ingredients than you would choose for your own nail polish remover, disinfectant and other at-home manicure or pedicure supplies, and salon owners or technicians who fail to follow their state's disinfection protocols or comply with other health and safety regulations or industry standards.

Experts recommend bringing your own manicure and pedicure tools with you to the nail salon, maintaining separate sets of nail care tools for your hands and feet to avoid cross-contamination, and disinfecting them thoroughly every time you use them, especially after you bring them back from a professional salon manicure or pedicure appointment, to minimize your risk for developing a bacterial, viral or fungal infection.

Bottom line: If you want healthy, strong nails that look pretty with or without polish, save those salon visits for special occasions, and bring your own tools to your manicure or pedicure appointments.

What are your best tips for growing strong, healthy beautiful nails?

We can all benefit from sharing what has (or hasn't) worked well for us or our friends or family members. Thank you!

14 Secrets to Growing Strong, Healthy, Beautiful Nails product review by Margaret Schindel

Read the Other Posts in This Nail Care Tips Series
The Best Manicure Tools For Strong, Healthy Nails

Sunday, May 9, 2021

A Personal Review of the Cubii - Five Stars - A Great Product

What's the Cubii?

If you haven't seen the ads on TV for this product, it's an "award-winning compact seated elliptical." In plain English, it's a small compact bike pedal that fits under your desk or anywhere you want it to do some pedaling from a seated position.

My 80+ Year Young Mother Purchased One

My mother decided that, especially with covid and with her health issues, she was simply sitting too much.

She had been thinking about getting the Cubii for over a year, and finally, after lockdown number three, she went ahead and ordered it in around March 2021.

The Cubii - Easy Assembly - Comes with the Mat

1. Does Your Mom Use it Regularly?

Yes. She sure does. She generally uses it on average three times a day for about 15 or 20 minutes at a time. However, once on a Zoom call, she biked for the full hour. Gently, of course.

2. Does Your Mom Have Any Pain from It?

No. Nothing that's from the Cubii.

3. Is the Cubii Strengthening Your Mom's Leg Muscles?

I'm going to say yes, slowly, yes. I was concerned about her muscles atrophying, so this is a terrific, safe way to get exercise without leaving her home and risking falls.

4. Does Your Mom Like the Cubii?

Yes. Mom really likes it. She's consistent when it comes to using it. She uses it daily.

5. Is it a Quiet Machine?

Not just quiet, virtually silent! Not a sound. The ads say it's whisper-quiet, and yes, it's that and more.

6. Can You Adjust the Tension?

Yes. Mom and I keep the tension low. Easy to do, turn the dial to the number you want.

7. Does it Track Distance, Time, Calories, and Rotations

Yes. It sure does.

8. Is it Easy to Assemble

It's effortless to assemble. It comes with a screwdriver and four screws to put the pedals on. Once the pedals are on, it's assembled and ready to use.

9. What Comes with the Cubii?

We purchased the basic model (which is still fantastic). It comes with the unit, a slip-free mat, caster stops if you have a chair on wheels to prevent your chair from moving (I didn't need them because my chair is on a rug), a screwdriver, and four screws.

10. Hows the Quality?

It's high quality and durable—great value for the money.

My Early (Very Early) Birthday Present From My Mom was the Cubii - My Birthday Isn't for Months, But My Health Won't Wait

I was able to try my mother's Cubii, and I loved it. Since I have arthritic health issues, she offered one to me as an early birthday gift.

I positioned my Cubii under my desk, and as I'm typing this article, I'm pedaling.

Get ready because using the Cubii is kind of addictive!

I LOVE the movement and motion when I'm sitting hours on end at my desk.

Typing and pedaling isn't a problem. Nope. I actually thought it would be an issue, but it's not. Yeah!

What Can I Do While Pedaling the Cubii?

Build Web Pages
Write Articles
Social Media Marketing
Create Graphics
Self Publish Books (Typing & Word Processing)
Talking on the phone
Texting
Watch TV and Videos
Most Accounting Paperwork
Creating Ads and Marketing
Update My Website

The only thing I cannot do while pedaling is create the riddles for my riddle books. Creating original riddles requires focused thought, so I find myself stopping and starting the pedals when I'm in 'creation mode.' Other than that, it's ideal for working at my desk.

What I Like Most About the Cubii

Since it's under my desk and I can exercise anytime while sitting, I don't feel guilty sitting for hours. Of course, I still get up and stretch, etc., but now it's for a change of scenery, not guilt from lack of exercise!

I find it relieves stress. When I'm feeling challenged, I pedal off my steam.

I highly recommend this product. You can get the product directly on the Cubii website or Amazon. If it's not available on Amazon (out of stock), head over to their website. They offer both a Canada and USA site link.

There are various models with various features. We chose the basic model, the JR1.

Five stars.

Here is another model up with a few more elaborate features - Bluetooth Compatible - Sync it to Your Fitbit

Here is the one we purchased - on Amazon:

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Wednesday, April 7, 2021

The Good Chocolate 100% Organic No Sugar Dark Chocolate Review

The Good Chocolate bars - Bean-to-Bar, Zero Sugar, 100% Delicious

The Good Chocolate: Great-Tasting, Healthy Chocolate Bars With No Sugar

I love chocolate! When I was younger, milk chocolate was my favorite. As the health benefits of dark chocolate became more widely known, however, I gradually retrained my taste buds to appreciate bars with a higher cacao or cocoa content. Now, my preference for dark chocolate has been reinforced by my keto diet lifestyle, since milk contains 2–8% lactose (a sugar naturally present in dairy milk).

Several months ago, I discovered The Good Chocolate, a brand of top quality, bean-to-bar chocolate made with 100% organic, ethically sourced ingredients and no sugar. It has since become one of my favorite brands of sugar free chocolate.

I'm pleased to be sharing my in-depth product review to introduce you to this terrific, principled company and its wonderful chocolate bars and mini-bars.

Can a Premium Quality, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Be Delicious and Also Healthy?

The Good Chocolate is the brainchild of two lifelong friends and partners in a branding and design agency, who in 2014 began to cut out all forms of sugar (including honey and agave) from their diets and replace them with organic, low- or no-calorie sweeteners with a low glycemic index. Six months later, they were thrilled with the results. They had each lost 10 pounds, were feeling great, had more energy, and were able to maintain their focus throughout the work day, without the mid-day crashes that frequently result from consuming sugar (in beverages, desserts, or snacks) in the late morning or early afternoon. (I experienced the same benefits (with a much bigger weight loss) a few months after I switched to a ketogenic weight loss diet, which included eliminating sugar in any form.)

During this process, they learned about how most food companies are well aware that adding sugar (or salt) to their products makes us eat, crave, and buy more of them—a cycle that is very profitable for the manufacturers...and very unhealthy, and expensive, for consumers.

The partners were inspired to help others break free from their sugar addiction and experience the improved health, wellbeing, energy and productivity they themselves were enjoying. So, they challenged themselves to create a bean-to-bar chocolate that would live up to their own high standards.

Within a few months, they had come up with a "sweet-blend" of three organic, low-glycemic-index sweeteners that met their exacting requirements for taste, health, and sustainability. They also immersed themselves in all things chocolate making, developing the required expertise in every step from sourcing organic cacao beans in Central and South America to perfectly tempering the roasted, winnowed, and ground chocolate.

They describe the result as "an exquisite, 100% organic bean-to-bar chocolate that’s as delicious as it is healthy." Source

It also has up to 45% fewer calories than similar dark chocolate!

What Is "Bean-to-Bar" Chocolate Making?

"Bean to Bar" production means that chocolate maker controls every step of the process, from sourcing the cacao beans to roasting, winnowing, and grinding them, and then tempering the chocolate before it is molded and packaged for sale.

The bean-to-bar method gives artisan or craft chocolate makers better quality control and produces a healthier product (since craft chocolate makers, unlike many big brands, do not try to accelerate the manufacturing process with chemicals or other additives). Source

It also gives the producers more control over the supply chain, so they can promote ethical and humane business practices. (More about this important topic later.)

The Good Chocolate controls the entire production process for its 100% organic chocolate bars at its factory in San Francisco.

Most Sugar Free Chocolate Isn’t Great “Eating Chocolate”

Since many chocolate bars with a higher cacao content, especially those with no sugar, lack the intense, rich flavor and luscious mouthfeel of bars with a lower cacao content, I have become extremely picky about sugar free chocolate.

In the past two years, I have tried many brands of low sugar and sugar free chocolate. There are plenty of low carb chocolate options. Unfortunately, many are sweetened primarily or exclusively with stevia or erythritol. Like many people, I find that anything sweetened only with stevia has a pronounced aftertaste that I dislike intensely, and that erythritol, when used as the only sweetener in a food, creates a cooling, almost mint-like sensation on the tongue.

Apart from BochaSweet sweetener (made from a pentose-type rare sugar extract from the kabocha squash), blends of two or more keto-friendly sweeteners, such as allulose, monk fruit, erythritol and stevia, taste more like sugar and don’t have the unpleasant aftertaste or cooling effect that stevia or erythritol can have when used alone.

Chocolate sweetened this way can be quite tasty. For example, I often sprinkle ChocZero chocolate chips over sugar free desserts such as my Low Carb Keto Chocolate Yogurt Granola Chip Pudding Recipe, and they're fine for baking keto chocolate chip cookies, for example. ChocZero's dark chocolate keto bark is quite good, and their seasonal dark chocolate peppermint truffles are pretty yummy, for sugar-free chocolate.

On the other hand, their dark chocolate contains only 55% cacao. The ingredients aren't organic. And the taste and mouthfeel are not in the same ballpark as the very high quality, sugar-sweetened dark chocolate I loved and enjoyed for many years, before I decided to cut sugar out of my life.

So, I have been on the lookout for a great "eating chocolate" (i.e., chocolate meant to be enjoyed as is, rather than with a filling, as a garnish, or in baked goods) with a higher cacao content, a more intense flavor, and a superior mouthfeel.

The Good Chocolate Bars Are Worth Savoring!

The Good Chocolate has the decadent taste and smooth, luscious mouthfeel of the artisan dark chocolate I used to indulge in before I chose a very low carb lifestyle. Like those, these bars are made from top quality cacao beans and cacao butter, roasted, winnowed, ground, tempered, and molded with the same care and expertise.

Unlike those, however, they don't contain sugar in any form. This means they won't cause your blood sugar levels to spike. It also means they won't cause you to crave more chocolate than is good for you. One of the biggest benefits of cutting out sugar from my diet is that I can I still enjoy and indulge in sweets without being at the mercy of my former cravings!

Having been a foodie for as long as I can remember, one of the keys to setting myself up for success on a keto diet was finding yummy healthier, keto-friending alternatives to my favorite foods so that I wouldn't feel deprived or be tempted to stray from my new eating plan. I was lucky that, unlike some people, I was able to conquer my sugar addiction without having to give up desserts, beverages, candy, and other foods that were sweetened with healthier alternatives to any form of sugar.

That's why I was so delighted when I tasted The Good Chocolate bars. They are luxurious enough to savor slowly and should please even gourmet chocolate aficionados.

A Unique Blend of Organic Healthy Sweeteners

In addition to using the highest quality, organic raw ingredients and a bean-to-bar process that gives the company full control over every aspect of production, another key thing that sets this brand's sugar free dark chocolate bars apart from most others is its organic "sweet-blend" of erythritol, stevia leaf extract, and mesquite powder.

Erythritol is a very popular zero-calorie sweetener that is naturally found in pears, mushrooms, and other plants and has a 0 glycemic index. It's easy for most people to digest (unlike many other keto-friendly sweeteners), and has the added benefit of preventing tooth decay.

Stevia leaf extract also has a 0 glycemic index. As I mentioned, combining stevia with the right blend of other keto-friendly sweeteners can mask its bitter aftertaste, which is what The Good Chocolate has done.

Mesquite powder is a traditional Native American product made from the ripened and ground seeds from the seed pods of the mesquite tree. Although traditionally used as an alternative to flour in sweet baked goods and breads, it has gained wider popularity as a "super food." In addition to adding a natural, subtle sweetness to foods, mesquite powder (sometimes called mesquite pod meal) also is high in fiber and protein, and has a very low glycemic index (25).

Even a Single Square Is a Deliciously Satisfying Indulgence

Each bar of The Good Chocolate is scored into six generously sized, squarish sections (approximately 1½ inches by 1 11/16 inches). If I wanted to, I could eat an entire bar in one sitting and still stay within my daily net carbs and calories for maintaining my nearly 60-pound weight loss (currently 59 pounds). However, I almost never do, because this brand is so rich and delicious, has such an intense chocolate flavor, and doesn't trigger my former addictive sugar cravings.

Unwrapped bar of The Good Chocolate dark chocolate

So, when I am in the mood for a piece, I break off one of the six sections, then fold over the elegant silver-lined gold foil wrapper and slide the rest of The Good Chocolate bar back into its heavy paper envelope-style pouch, with its distinctive cover art and graphic design.

I savor the section I broke off, nibbling off small pieces and letting each one rest on my tongue for a few seconds to warm a bit before I consume it. By the time I have slowly worked my way to the last little bite, I'm usually satisfied.

Occasionally, however, I may decide to indulge in a second piece, if I want one. It always feels like a guilty pleasure, even though there is nothing to feel guilty about!

Sophisticated Flavor Choices to Please Any Palate

Most of The Good Chocolate bars are 65% cacao dark chocolate. My favorites include Himalayan Salt, Mint, Ginger, and Salted Caramel, although they also made their plain 65% cacao Signature Dark Chocolate bars.

Currently, there is also a limited-edition Coconut & Turmeric Detox Bar, a 65% cacao dark chocolate bar with developed in collaboration with model and actress Charlotte McKinney and filled with delicious, nutrition-packed superfoods.

The brand also makes a 54% cacao "Dark Milk Chocolate. At the moment, there is also a limited-edition 58% Double Crunch Vegan Milk Bar (which they also refer to as "mylk" chocolate).

I believe that, other than the "Dark Milk Chocolate" bars, all the other bars are vegan.

Lower in Calories and Net Carbs Than Similar Dark Chocolate Bars

Here's a high-level nutrition data comparison between The Good Chocolate's 65% Signature Dark Chocolate and two other popular brands of dark chocolate, Lindt 64% Dark Chocolate, and Lily's 70% Dark Chocolate (nutrition data pulled from TGC's website).

	The Good Chocolate 65% Cacao	Lindt 64% Cacao	Lily's 70% Cacao
Sugar (%)	0	37	1
Sugar (Teaspoons)	0	6	0
Net Carbs (Total Carbs minus Fiber & Erythritol)	2	26	6
Calories	227	397	289

Buying Ethically Sourced Chocolate Protects Impoverished Farmers, Children, and Refugees

Against Dangerous Work, Slave Labor, and Human Trafficking

Nearly two-thirds of the world's cocoa beans are produced in West Africa's Côte D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Ghana. Indonesia has become another top cocoa producer.

Tragically, cacao production has long been notorious for the worst forms of forced labor, child labor, and hazardous child labor, sometimes a result of human trafficking. Unfortunately, many cacao bean farmers are paid less than $1 a day for this dangerous, backbreaking work, and can't afford to hire additional laborers to help. Instead, of allowing their children to go to school, they use them as unpaid, forced labor so their family can survive.

The customers for most of this production are large, global chocolate corporations, including Mars, Nestlé, The Hershey Company, and Mondelez International (formerly Kraft foods), and others. Although most have policies prohibiting forced labor practices in their supply chain, those policies are hard to enforce because, for the most part, they don't purchase directly from the cacao bean farmers.

Currently, seven of the world's biggest chocolate companies have been named in a landmark class-action lawsuit in which they are accused of "aiding and abetting the illegal enslavement of 'thousands' of children on cocoa farms in their supply chains" by eight children who claim to have been forced to work as slave labor on Côte D'Ivoire cocoa plantations.

The Good Chocolate Is Ethically and Sustainably Sourced and Packaged

The best way to help break this terrible, systemic cycle of inhumane practices is for consumers to buy their chocolate from smaller, bean-to-bar producers who have more control over their supply chain than these huge corporations, so they are better able to promote ethical, humane, and not only socially but also environmentally responsible business practices.

One of the easiest way to find these smaller, craft chocolate makers who are committed to ethical sourcing is to look for brands that are organic, fair trade, direct trade, and/or Rainforest Alliance certified.

Whenever possible, The Good Chocolate purchases Fair Trade or Rain Forest Alliance certified cacao beans.
The company uses only 100% certified organic cacao beans and cacao butter in its bars.
It is also committed to sustainable farming practices and is working with its cacao suppliers to reach 100% sustainability as the company grows.

The company also worked with some forward-thinking companies develop cost-effective, renewable packaging solutions that can be recycled or composted.

The Good Chocolate takes its name and mission to heart, "to create delicious chocolate that is [not only] good for you, but also good for the planet." As the website states, "We may spend a little more time, effort and money on renewable packaging, but we hope that our effort, care and responsibility will inspire others and leave the planet a little better off along our way." Source

More Expensive, But Worth It

The Good Chocolate makes premium, small-batch, chocolate bars made with 100% certified organic cacao beans and cacao butter, as well as the blend of erythritol, stevia leaf extract, and mesquite powder, sweeteners that all cost significantly more than cane sugar.

The company also is committed to following ethical, humane business practices in an industry known for terrible physical, moral, and financial abuses of vulnerable populations, paying a fair price for the cacao beans and cacao butter it purchases, and practicing social and environmental responsibility to protect our future as well as our present.

As a result, these extremely high quality, no sugar dark chocolate bars cost more than some of the high-quality, 100% organic dark chocolate bars sold in Whole Foods Market and similar stores. When I first read about The Good Chocolate and looked into the company and its products, I thought charging $7.50 for a bar of dark chocolate was outrageous (unless the gold foil wrapper was made of real gold!). So, the only reason I decided to buy a 6-bar assortment was that, at the time, there was a promotion that offered a significant discount on your first order.

I never thought I would even consider ordering more at full price after I finished the six bars from that introductory offer. However, as soon as I taste this new-to-me brand, it immediately became apparent that this premium, sophisticated candy was head-and-shoulders above any other healthy, sugar-free chocolate I had tried. Also, because it was so rich, dark, and delicious, I found that just one section of a bar of The Good Chocolate was enough to satisfy me. That meant that I could indulge in a generously sized square from time to time for $1.25 per serving which, while still pricy, cost less than the 1/3 to 1/2 bar serving of one of the high quality, organic, fair trade chocolate bars I used to buy before I eliminated sugar from my diet.

Now Available on Amazon With Prime FREE Delivery!

The Good Chocolate just launched on Amazon. So, in addition to Amazone Prime Free Delivery, if you try The Good Chocolate and love it as much as I do, you can save up to 5% with Subscribe & Save (or 10% on your first Subscribe & Save subscription). You can also choose your auto-delivery frequency, as often as every two weeks to as seldom as every six months.

I highly recommend ordering The Good Chocolate Bar Variety Pack first, which includes six 2.5-ounce (70g) chocolate bars, including all five flavors of 65% Dark Chocolate (Signature Dark, Himalayan Salt, Mint, Ginger, Salted Almonds) and a 54% Dark Milk Chocolate. It's the perfect way to sample their core flavors and pick your favorites before placing another order.

The Good Chocolate 100% Organic No Sugar Dark Chocolate Review by Margaret Schindel

Posts About My Keto Diet Journey

My First Year on The Keto Diet

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part One

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part Two

Low Carb Muffins & Cupcakes: Treats to Enjoy on a Keto Diet

Low Carb Keto Chocolate Yogurt Granola Chip Pudding Recipe

Good Dee’s Keto Cookie Low Carb Baking Mix Review

Hamama Microgreens Growing Kit Review & Success Tips

My Favorite Hamama Microgreens Seed Quilt Accessories

Keto Cheddar Cheese Biscuits With Chives Recipe

The Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe

The Best Low Carb Keto Gift Ideas: Keto Gift Guide

The Best Low Carb Keto Cinnamon Muffins

Wholesome Yum Keto Bread Mix and Yeast Bread Recipe

The Good Chocolate 100% Organic No Sugar Dark Chocolate Review

The Best Advice to Maintain Your Keto Diet Weight Loss

My New Irresistibly Delicious Keto Cheese Crackers Recipe

Luscious Low Carb Keto Triple Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies Recipe

Quick & Easy Livlo Blueberry Scones Keto Baking Mix Review

Snack Better With The Best Healthy Keto Cookie Dough Bites

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe

Comparing the Best Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads - No Added Sugars

The Best Low Carb Keto Sandwich and Burger Buns Mix

Blueberry Biscuit Scones — New, Easy, Low Carb Keto Recipe

The Best Keto Pizza Crust Mix With 0 Net Carbs

An Unusual, Delicious Strawberry Chocolate Tea With 0 Calories

Delicious Sugar-Free Keto Cookies That OREO Fans Will Love

Healthy Pistachio Cherry Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cereal Treats Recipe

Easy, Decadent, High Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Sausage and Ricotta Calzones

How to Make Refreshing Vanilla Italian Soda (With or Without Cream)

Reviews of the Keto Diet by Barbara C. (aka Brite-Ideas)

My Personal Keto Testimonial

How I Stayed Committed to the Ketogenic Way of Eating

Monday, April 5, 2021

Spring Woodland Walks For Wellbeing Reviewed

Woodland Walks

Nature and wildlife are a huge part of my life in so many ways. They are an integral part of my life, my soul even. They are essential to my wellbeing.

I had not been able to go for a woodland walk in a long time due to the Covid lockdowns in our country and having to stay local for walks.

I really missed our woodland walks and the absence of them made me realise how much I need to be connected to nature for my wellbeing.

I love gardening and have done a lot of that this year but I know I also need the wildness of a forest. So today I would like to take you with me on our woodland walks and to discuss why connecting with nature and especially woodlands is so important.

Bluebells In Spring Woodland Clearing

Walking In Woodland

The obvious benefit to walking in woodland is the exercise. If you are on a treadmill or exercise bike I tend to notice how long I have been exercising. However, in a woodland walk, I can roam for hours up and down hills across streams and I really do not notice that I have in fact been exercising for maybe 2 hours.

In addition, you receive fresh air enhanced by the gorgeous trees and shrubs all around you and the experience being outdoors in a different environment.

Also, I always find woodland to be so calming. Studies have shown that exercising in woodland decreases stress and anxiety.

There is always something new to see in a woodland from frosty winter trees against a blue sky, haunting misty scenes, to new buds and spring flowers.

We share the woods with many animals and birds and so far we have seen rabbits, squirrels, mice and many species of birds. In fact, it has made me want to learn more about bird songs as I can often hear the birds singing but cannot see them.

Most of all I always feel tired yet refreshed after a woodland walk. There is something about the energy of the tall trees, the green environment, renewal and being surrounded by wild nature that makes the heart sing and sets me up for the rest of the day.

Winter Trees Against Blue Sky Canvas Print
by RaintreeDesigns

Our forest walking began in late winter, early spring when we need some motivation to go out walking on a cold rather misty day. I love the photo below as it shows the woodland as a rather enchanted, mystical place.

The trees are bare with branches reaching for the sky and all around seems asleep, except that we know the buds on the trees and the flowers underground are just waiting patiently to emerge.

I have never felt afraid in a forest, it is all rather comforting and familiar to me. I like to feel small against the huge trees that are protecting, rather than intimidating.

person walking on a misty path in the woods

A Misty Woodland Walk In Early Spring

Tree Bark In Woodland

I love to look out for beautiful bark patterns on the trees. The bark is never just brown, it has amazing patterns and colours, shallow and deep rivulets.

If you look closely you may see a tiny creature or two going about its day. An ancient tree has lived so many years, seen so much and overcome drought with heat and damaging storms.

An ancient tree can give us hope and peace that we too can overcome many things. While our lifespan is not so long as many trees, we can experience and overcome so much, flourish and grow.

Beautiful Tree Bark

Fallen Trees In A Woodland

I love to see the fallen trees gradually becoming a habitat for new life. The natural life of a tree is usually a long one. Trees seed, grow into young saplings, mature and live long productive lives.

Then if trees are managed well they are either allowed to fall when old or felled if they become in danger of falling to cause damage or injury.

Importantly if they are allowed to rest rather than cleared away, there is a further opportunity in death for them to still live on providing sustenance and homes for all manner of bugs, insects and mammals.

Their bark eventually decays and enriches the soil and from that springs more new life and so the cycle of nature goes on just as it should.

fallen tree branches and trunks covered partly in moss

Fallen Trees Giving New Life

Stunning Snowdrops

As winter turns to Spring I eagerly look out for the stunning Snowdrop. I do not have a favourite flower rather I like to embrace each flower on its own merits and the snowdrop is a perfect example of a flower that has its moment in time.

Snowdrops look so delicate, so tiny yet they are strong and tough little flowers that survive and thrive at one of the harshest times of the year

I adore the white purity of the flower against the shining green stems and am always amazed how such a tiny flower braves snow and ice, winds and wet and comes through it all defying the harsh conditions to bloom so brightly, so splendidly.

To me, they are a symbol of Hope that the winter is behind us and the warmer, sunnier lighter days are just around the corner. We also look forward to bluebells, crocus and the wonderful fungi that appear in the forest.

Stunning Spring Snowdrops Postcard
by RaintreeDesigns

Woodland Birds

Birds fascinate me more than most animals in the woodland. I am mesmerized by their singing, the clever way they build their nests and care for their young and the beauty of their feathers.

I love to look out for blackbirds, sparrows, blue tits and woodpeckers. It is a lovely way to spend a morning to find a place to sit and listen to this sound which is as beautiful as the most accomplished orchestra.

In one of the forests we visit, the local Wildlife Trust has set up birdfeeder stations. If you are quiet and still and patient there is nothing better than watching the birds dart onto and off the feeders. Sometimes I take photos, other times I simply experience the moment, in a state of just being.

I was so lucky we were in the right place at the right time and actually looking upwards to the tops of the trees, to get the opportunity to take this photograph of a cormorant perching high to dry his wing feathers after diving.

Cormorants are distinctive birds that often live in the woodland but nearby water and there is a large pond in the middle of this forest that is perfect for this bird to fish in. They have as you can see a long neck and an almost prehistoric appearance about them. After fishing, it needs to find a high perch in the open where it can hold its wings out so they can dry after each dive. I feel so privileged to have observed this moment in nature.

Cormorant Drying Wings After Diving

Spring In The Woods, Nurturing The Soul

As we approach Spring, the clocks go forward, we have longer hours of daylight and suddenly the forest changes occur very quickly.

The tiny tight buds we saw in early spring now unfurl at a rapid pace and the previously brown bare branches almost overnight turn into bright fresh green foliage. This is my favorite time right now.

Everything is fresh and new and bright, the days are longer and there is the promise of much more to come. Any worries we have seem more bearable in this beautiful magical environment. I feel a fresh resurgence of the desire to do things, to grow, to explore.

Early Spring In The Woods

It is far too easy these days to become caught up in the everyday noise of our lives, the television, the news, the traffic to see what is occurring right with us if we take time to really look and listen.

There is nothing quite like a forest to see that renewal to view the changes in nature, to feel the growth of new life, to smell the damp soil underfoot and to hear the beautiful birdsong. To experience the sheer joy of finding a new flower that was not there the day before.

bluebells in green grass at the base of a tree

Beautiful Bluebells!

I love this poem by WH Davies which encourages us to "stand and stare" in nature for our own good.

What Is Life If Full Of Care...?

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

by W.H. Davies

Woodland Walking And Wellbeing

I gave some thought to what word I feel when walking in the woods and I have concluded that the word is "Serenity".

Pink Blossoms And Serenity Verse
by RaintreeDesigns

That is the feeling and that is perhaps why so many studies are now showing that it is vital for us all to spend more time in a natural environment.

Even if that is only one walk a week it gives us benefits but if we can make it thirty minutes a day it is beneficial to our overall health and certainly to our mental and emotional wellbeing.

Life can be quite challenging at times and we all have things we need to deal with, perhaps more so these days, so we need a place to go to ground ourselves, to find peace, to find that serenity.

If you, like me love to connect with nature and the countryside and have a love for trees and woodlands and have enjoyed this glimpse into my woodland walks, you may enjoy reading this book Wildwood by the late Roger Deakin. He was a British nature writer and takes us on a journey through the mysteries of woods, trees and nature in several countries around the world. His writing is quite beautiful and uplifting when looking into the spirituality of nature and people's connection with the natural world.

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Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees

So for me walking in woodland is not only an enjoyable activity I always look forward to whatever the weather and a way to connect with nature, but it is also an essential part of ensuring my health and wellbeing. I hope you have enjoyed this walk through the woods with me.