This post is also availble in German.

A few weeks ago I received an email from a lovely reader asking how we handle Christmas from a sustainability point of view. While I am certainly not an expert on sustainability, I am nevertheless continuously trying to work on my carbon footprint in everyday life. In fact, last year my husband and I decided against a Christmas tree in our apartment (we still had one at my parents’ house). This year I wanted to find out more about the sustainability aspect of Christmas, so read on if you’re curious about a green Christmas.

The Christmas tree

The Christmas tree stands for the coziness of the Holidays and I feel like it is the heart of the Christmas celebrations. But the Christmas tree has gotten a bad reputation over the years. In contrast to the United States, plastic trees are not very common here in Germany. This of course results in millions of pine trees being cut just for the sake of our Christmas celebrations. However, there are ways to have a sustainable Christmas with a real tree.

What’s wrong with conventional Christmas trees?

Conventional trees are grown in mono cultures, they are treated with pesticides and are often imported from far away. Mono cultures prevent natural pest control, which is why the conventional trees have to be sprayed with chemicals. To be honest, I never really thought about this, because I always thought that every family goes out cutting their own trees from a eco-conscious tree plant. Now that I know this, I really do not feel like having a tree with pesticides in my home in the future.

Organic Christmas trees

Buying an organic tree is a more eco-friendly option, however, they are still hard to find. I asked the ladies on my favorite organic farmers market stand for some tips, they will most likely be able to help you find organic Christmas trees in your neighborhood. Organic Christmas tree farmers do not use harmful pesticides, and often have sheep eating the weeds around the trees. How cute is that? These lists provide names with lots of organic Christmas tree farmers in Germany.

• Bund
• Bund Niedersachen
• Naturland

If you know of any organic Christmas tree farms near you, be sure to let me know in the comments below.

No Christmas tree

Of course it’s the most sustainable way to simply skip the Christmas tree. Saying no is always the most eco-friendly way. I salute the people chose to skip the tree, but for me, this is not (yet) an option.

DIY Christmas tree

The one thing I might find myself doing in the future is this DIY Christmas tree from lose branches. You can re-use it every year and even decorate it with ornaments. I found this example via Pinterest on Lavendelblog.de , but I am sure you’ll find lots of English tutorials on Pinterest, too.

Renting a Christmas tree

Renting your very own living Christmas tree has become more and more available around the world. There are several companies in Germany that offer this amazing service. They deliver the tree in December, then you need to take really good care of the tree while it’s living in your home until they pick it up again after the Holidays.

Germany
Weihnachtsbaumfreunde
Rent-A-Plant (Hamburg)
Green Tree (NRW, Paderborn)
Weihnachtsbaum Mitte (Berlin)

UK
cotswoldfir.com
loveachristmastree.co.uk
forever-green-christmas.co.uk

USA
Rent-a-Christmas (NY)
Living Christmas (Los Angeles)

Natural tree ornaments

I love all things neutral and white, so I am not into lametta and glitter on trees anyways. Turns out that the latter include micro plastic, which is something we should no longer buy anyways. So decorating your tree with paper stars, hay ornaments or glitter-free glass ornaments is the most sustainable way.

Gift-wrapping

My sister is the wrapping-queen in my family, and she has always re-used the simple brown wrapping paper that you use to wrap packages in. Just as with ornaments, I prefer simple, uni-colored wrapping paper – or no wrapping paper at all. In the UK alone, you could wrap the earth eight times with the amount of paper used around the Holidays. How crazy is that. That’s why I have fallen in love with Furoshiki, a Japanese gift wrapping technique using fabrics.

I know, I will never become a DIY-blogger in my lifetime, but hey, I did my best. And honestly, it’s a lot easier to wrap your gifts into fabrics than paper. If you’re not sure how to do this, you’ll find plenty of Furoshiki tutorials on Pinterest.

Washi tape instead of plastic tape

I feel like the Japanese have invented sustainable Christmas. Just kidding, but Washi tape is also a Japanese invention. The paper tape is actually a more sustainable option than plastic tape, and it looks a lot prettier, too!

Presents

DIY edible gifts

I love making my own gifts for my family and friends. A few years ago I shared this savory walnut granola, a DIY Turmeric Latte mix and a superfood hot chocolate with matching gift tags in this blog post. DIY natural cosmetics or room sprays is also a great gift idea.

Cookbooks

Honestly, I love receiving really good cookbooks. To be honest, the more expensive a book is, the better the recipes, at least that’s what I found. All my most-loved cookbooks (such as Amy Chaplin*, Anna Jones* or Green Kitchen Stories*) are all around 30 Euros each and worth every penny. Of course I would be delighted if you give away one of my books* this Christmas, if you speak German, of course.

Reducing the presents madness

My husband’s family stopped the “presents madness” a few years ago. Now, every family member draws a name and gets the chosen person one gift that for a maximum of 50 Euros. I feel like their presents have gotten a lot more meaningful since they incorporated this as their Christmas routine.

Giving time

The best presents are not tangible, or do you remember the gift you’ve received from your aunt five years ago? What I will always remember are the theater visits, the concerts or the small trips that I have been gifted over the years.

Donating to good causes

Instead of spending money on things we don’t need, we could donate our money to great causes. I will donate money to our local animal shelter this year, but there are so many organizations doing amazing charity work near you, I’m sure. Be sure to do a background check on the organizations that you do not know yet (I know it’s sad that this has to be said), so your money really reaches the cause you want to support.

Buying sustainable and eco-friendly gifts

Still want to give presents? Totally understandable. But perhaps try to ask your loved ones if there is something that they really need. I know, this ruins the surprise in many cases, but at least you can be sure that your present is used and won’t end up on landfill. I shared a list of sustainable brands in this blogpost.

The Christmas feast

An easy way to make Christmas more eco-friendly is to eat more plants. Perhaps this is the year to give a lentil loaf a try? Plant-based menus are often much more creative, because – let’s face it – we plant-eaters sometimes try to show-off with our food. In our family, the plant-based dishes are always the first ones gone. If you like, check out this plant-based Christmas menu from last year.

Reducing food waste

It’s sad to say, but food waste is the third biggest contributor to greenhouse gases (source). I know that the whole climate and sustainability talk can feel overwhelming at times. I myself often find myself questioning the impact of my choices on fighting climate change. Food waste, however, is something that we can easily prevent by planning our meals better or making better use of leftovers. Since a lot of food is wasted over the Holidays as we tend to over-shop before Christmas, we should all make an effort to waste less food this year. You can also call up your local food banks or shelters and ask if they are in need of more food donations.

Finally

We often forget that Christmas is actually not about presents, not about trees or advent calendars. It’s about being with your loved ones, cuddling up on the sofa, eating homemade cookies or playing board games with your family. So take a moment today and give your friend, partner, child, mother, father, dog or cat a hug. That’s what the real Christmas spirit is all about.

Have a lovely weekend!

xx

Lynn

The post Sustainable christmas – ideas how to make Christmas more meaningful and eco-friendly appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

*Not sponsored. This article contains unpaid links to my favorite green labels and online shops. None of it is sponsored.

This post is also available in German.

Today is Thanksgiving in the U.S. and if you don’t live on the moon, you probably know that tomorrow is Black Friday. When I lived in the U.S., I watched the Black Friday spectacle once and could not believe the masses of people camping outside of the malls. In my green bubble, Black Friday is mentioned with a lot of negative comments. I’ve read lots of articles on Black Friday consumerism, however, the green bubble tends to be a bit too radical in my opinion. Not everyone can afford to skip sales or promotions. Yes, simply not buying anything is the only way to really safe money tomorrow, but if you really need, say, a new laptop of a new phone, this day can be very important for lots of people. I know of a lot of students, who wait for Black Friday or Cyber Monday to buy a laptop that they otherwise would not be able to afford. It’s not always as simple as saying, do not buy into the Black Friday madness.

That said, a recent study by pwc (German source), however, confirmed what everyone already knows anyways: most of the Black Friday sales go straight to the fashion industry. Of course, if you need a new winter jacket, if you’ve lost your hat again on the train or your winter boots are broken, tomorrow is a great day to buy these things that you really need. But we all know from experience that fashion consumerism is mostly about the things we want, not the things we need. And I am definitely no exception. Since pws’s study found that most Germans are planning on spending 254 Euros tomorrow and on Cyber Monday, I wanted to share some more eco-friendly alternatives that you can decide to spend your money on. There are so many great fair and eco-friendly labels out there, and amazing online shops that sell products with great ethics. Yes we all know we should buy less, but if we do, we might as well spend it on companies that are trying to combine consumerism with sustainabilty. While most green and sustainable labels and shops boycott Black Friday completely, others donate 100% or part of the day’s sales to good causes (such as O My Bag or Armedangels).

Before you shop online, I suggest checking out local brick and mortar stores that carry ethical labels. It’s always best to support your local community before going on the internet. Here are some ideas for online brands and shops.

Fair Fashion

Jan ‘n June

I’ve shared this amazing German brands lots of times already and I will continue to do so, because they are just so great. Jan ‘n June is one of Germany’s pioneer fair fashion brands. Their style is timeless, monochrome and effortless, and everything is ethically made in Poland and Portugal. I’ve recently treated myself to this sweater and this stylish jacket that is perfect for occasions where I need to dress it up a bit. Also, I’ve gotten plenty of compliments on this super cool pair of earrings. I also own their signature scarf, and their beanie is on my christmas wish list.

Jan ‘n June have given me a discount code that you isn’t about Black Friday madness. With the code heavenlynnhealthyxjnj you’ll get 10 % off your entire purchase.

Armedangels

One of my all-time favorite fair fashion brands is Armedangels. The Cologne-based label brings fair fashion to the people as their prices are relatively moderate and affordable. Armedangels also has great denims that are produced without harmful chemicals and use more than 65 % less water during the whole production process. I absolutely love their DetoxDenim, and the awareness for the dirty Denim-business that they have raised with their recent campaign. With the code DetoxArmyLynn you’ll get 15 % off your entire purchase (except sale) until mid december. Also, for each purchase made today and tomorrow, the company donates 10 Euros to Fridays for Future Germany.

Peopletree UK

As this is an English post, I thought I’d also include an English brand in this post. The fair fashion pioneer Peopletree is a huge name in the fair fashion industry. I especially love the variety of dresses that they offer as well as great basics for every occasion. Peopletree offers a Fair Friday Deal with 30 % off various items, making fair fashion more affordable for everyone.

Accessoires

O My Bag

The Amsterdam-based company O My Bag produces eco-friendly bags that are fair and ethically made. Ever since I discovered them in Amsterdam four years ago, I’ve been in love with their style. Tomorrow all Black Friday sales are donated for a project in India, so your purchase on Black Friday is basically a donation.

Organic beauty

Amazingy

The Berlin-based online shop ships to various locations in Europe. Amazingy has a huge selection of all well-known natural beauty brands from Pai Skincare to Josh Rosebrook or natural make-up pioneers such as Kjaer Weis. They also plant trees for all purchases all throughout December, so you feel even better about your purchases.

Yoga

hej hej

The German brand hej hej produces yoga mats out of 100% recycled materials. And in case you do not need your mat anymore, the mats can again be fully recycled. Such a great example of a sustainable and eco-friendly business idea.

Of course this is only a tiny selction of fair fashion brands and online shops. If you’re German, have a look at this post in German with a larger selection of online shops. For more sustainable and eco-friendly inspiration, check-out the british website Eco-Age, where you can find lots of fair fashion brands and labels.

xx

Lynn

The post Green labels and online shop that are doing Black Friday better appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

This post is also availble in German. Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf deutsch.

Werbung/Ad. Today, there are two recipes for DIY room sprays that bring the fresh forest air into your home with the essential tree oils from PRIMAVERA *.

I have a new hobby. Last year, I began to experiment with making my own natural beauty and household or cleaning products. It is unbelievably meditative and fun to play around with DIY hair masks, face masks, body scrubs or room sprays. In addition, the DIY products are all natural, sustainable and help to significantly reduce waste. All the more reason to give it a try from time to time.

Also, I’ve been kind of obsessed with playing around with different combinations of essential oils. Even before I dived deeper into aromatherapy, tree oils were among my favorites among the essential oils. My love for tree oils led me to the topic of forest medicine. I’m not sure if this is the right English word, but I think you know what I mean. For me, forest walks are the epitome of calm and serenity. I love the smell of pine trees, wet leaves, or churned earth on my morning jog through the forest.

It all started with the essential oil of Swiss pine, whose fragrance I have been loving for years. I love adding it to my diffuser with some lemon essential oil. Back then I already knew that the oils of the Swiss pine were helpful for the respiratory system, but a book called “Forest Medicine” (only available in German: Waldmedizin) by Anusati Thumm and Maria M. Kettenring got me hooked on other tree oils. Gradually, the essential oils of spruce needle, pine needle, mountain pine or the giant fir were added and now it may happen that my home smells like a forest. Heavenly – in my opinion.

For today’s DIY recipes, I’ve teamed up with one of my favorite companies: PRIMAVERA. I have long been an enthusiastic customer of the traditional German company from the Allgäu and trust the quality of the 100% natural, essential oils. PRIMAVERA has just added three new tree oils: Himalayan Cedar Extra, Black Pine Extra Bio and Larch Bio.

All PRIMAVERA oils are completely genuine, meaning they are natural and unaltered. Also, they contain no synthetic additives and are not stretched with other oils. Of course, all PRIMAVERA oils are not tested on animals and the raw materials come primarily from controlled organic farming. In addition, there is a high level of commitment to organic farming projects worldwide, which not only protect species, but also use chemical-free pest control and fertilizers and do without genetic engineering.

A great first contact with the world of essential oils are home-made room sprays. My mix “forest walk” combines the two oils black pine and Himalayan cedar and brings fresh forest air into the home. The room spray “Breathe” is a bit gentler thanks to the scent of Swiss pine and larch and is used especially in stressful situations. The oils are basically only mixed with water. I like to use distilled water, which we always have in the house anyway. In order for the sprays to last longer, I also addd some alcohol. Not a must, but a good idea when you’re planning to use it as a gift or if you’re not sure you will use it up right away. As a container, I use empty glass bottles from my natural cosmetics brands. They are perfect for upcycling.

Heavenly for body and soul, because …

… the room sprays with the essential tree oils provide fresh air in the home. Essential tree oils are particularly suitable for cleaning room air, help with respiratory problems, colds or psychological stress.

Himalayan cedar

The essential oil of the Himalayan cedar has a stabilizing and strengthening effect on our psyche. It is therefore often used in stress or burn-out. But the Himalaya cedar oil is a great skin oil. It has an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and lymphatic stress.-releasing effect. Thus it can be used for cellulite, arteriosclerosis, allergies or skin rashes.

Use:
– For room ventilation in diffuser or room spray.
– All tree oils go perfectly with essential citrus oils such as lemon or grapefruit. Heavenly!
– In homemade deodorant
– Muscle pain associated with almond oil
– As a disinfecting soap

Black pine

The essential oil of the Blac pine is obtained from a dedicated PRIMAVERA cultivation partner in Corsica. Black pine oil is a mild essential oil that has an expectorant effect and is therefore used for colds and respiratory problems. The oil of the Black pine has nerve-strengthening and stimulating effect, which is why it is recommended for stress or anxiety. The scent is pleasantly gentle and can be used by both adults and children.

Use:
– For room ventilation in the diffuser or as room spray
– As a body oil for lymphatic drainage
– In conjunction with almond oil as an expectorant oil for the nostrils

Larch, organic

The essential oil of the larch comes from Austria or South Tyrol. It is extracted from the needles of the larch tree and is highly anti-infective, expectorant and promotes ejection. Therefore, it is often used in bronchial diseases. Like most essential tree oils, larch oil is mood-enhancing and psychologically invigorating and is therefore also recommended for stress, burn-out or depression.

Use:
– For room ventilation in the diffuser or as room spray
– As a body oil for nerve pain
– As an inhalation oil for respiratory diseases such as bronchitis
– In combination with almond oil as a body oil to strengthen the immune system

Swiss pine

This essential oil from PRIMAVERA has long been my favorite. It has been experiencing a real boom for several years and it is used especially for sleep disorders. The essential oil of the Swiss pine reduces stress and generally promotes well-being. Swiss pine oil, like all tree oils, can have a positive effect on the psyche and be particularly encouraging. It is also used when it comes to neutralizing room odors.

Use:
– As a room spray to neutralize bad odors
– A few drops of Swiss pine oil on a stone pine ball can have a sleep-promoting effect.
– As an inhaler pen in case of panic, fears or shocks.

If you would like to know more about tree oils, I highly recommend the book “Forest Medicine – The healing power of essential tree oils” by Anusati Thumm and Maria M. Kettenring. I always like to browse through the book because I find the health-promoting effect of essential oils of the forest just fascinating. In addition to the detailed description of ingredients and modes of action of the essential oils, the book contains a variety of recipes and instructions on how the forest oils can be used specifically for the prevention and treatment of various diseases.

*Advertising. This article was created in loving cooperation with PRIMAVERA. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the companies that make me dance daily through my kitchen and develop recipes.

The post Breathe in: Homemade DIY room spray with tree essential oils appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

In my 2019 trend forecast, I’ve already mentioned the celery hype that has taken over Instagram last year. This month, it seems like literally everyone has jumped on the trend and I keep seeing celery juice on Instagram everywhere. Health experts have called out celery juice as a fad and some even call the trend dangerous. So what’s the science behind it? And is it really advisable to drink celery juice every morning? And what is my personal experience with this juice? Let’s dive right into it.

I’ve been getting so many questions from readers and people on Instagram that have been asking me about this trend, so I have decided to test it out in December and January. Since my academic background is based on science and clinical studies, I decided to look into the science behind the celery juice trend. This being said, I am also a true believer in the alternative medicine, naturopaths and eastern medicine such as Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, when it comes to food trends like the celery trend, I do like to look at the science first.

How nutritious is celery really?

Celery has been shown to contain a variety of vitamins, minerals and trace elements such as: vitamins K and C, some B vitamins, beta-carotene, which are converted into Vitamin A in the body, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese potassium and phosphorus. So it’s safe to say: celery itself is pretty healthy and has a great nutrient content.

Health benefits of celery?

There have been various studies on the benefits of celery, however, some have looked at whole celery sticks and some at celery seeds and only some at celery juice. Juicing extracts the fiber in the celery, but most of the above mentioned vitamins and minerals are still intact after juicing.

– The minerals magnesium and potassium in celery juice as well as its nitrate content can have a positive effect on one’s blood pressure. In fact, a study conducted in China found that 14 of 16 patients who had hypertension improved their blood pressure by drinking celery juice with honey three times a day for one week. Of course the study is not representative, but I still think that its findings are interesting. However, more studies are needed to confirm this result. But since celery contains magnesium, potassium and nitrate, one can expect celery to have great effects on high blood pressure as the former two relax the blood vessels. Also nitrate-rich vegetables have been found to have a great impact on high blood pressure in various studies.

– Along with the blood pressure, celery can have a positive effect on water retention. This is due to the blood pressure reducing compounds found in the celery. Since celery contains about 80% of water, it is very hydrating and therefore good for water rention.
– Interestingly, the traditional chinese medicine (TCM) uses celery juice for high blood pressure treatment and even Ayurveda uses it to heal digestive and neurological issues.
– There are also a few studies conducted in vitro, or on rats, so not on humans, that have shown a positive effect of celery on inflammation. Furthermore, we know that celery is an antioxidant and has been shown to reduce oxidative stress.
– One kind reader also suggested research on anti-cancer research related to a flavonoid called apigenin. According to peer-reviewed articles, there has been evidence that apigenin has been shown to have a positive effect on gastric cancer cells and breast cancer cells.

What are the critics of celery juice saying?

Many health websites and nutritionists have busted the celery juice trend as a myth. Here are some of their arguments:

1. Celery juice lacks fiber.
Yes, that is definitely true. However, all juices lack fiber, so this can’t be a reason why celery juice is potentially bad for you. This is not true. It all comes down to the question of smoothie versus juice, which is an old story. Whether you are team juice, team smoothie or team both (me!), freshly squeezed vegetable juices are never bad for you as long as you integrate enough fiber to your diet throughout the day.

2. Celery juice does not replace breakfast.

This argument is indeed very valuable as the celery juice trend tells everyone not to eat anything for 25-30 minutes after drinking about 500 ml of the juice. As some people claim to have lost weight after drinking celery juice in the morning for quite some time, it is possible that they simply skipped breakfast after all. This is of course not recommended.

3. Celery is not the “savior” of all things.

Also true. Some sources try to make celery juice into a “savior”, claiming it can heal literally any chronic disease. There is definitely no food on earth that has super powers and that will cure all health issues. It all comes down to a balanced diet rich in nutrients. However, this blog is living proof that I believe in the healing powers of food. If celery alone is the answer to all the problems is doubtful. If it is integrated into a holistic lifestyle rich in real foods with vitamins, minerals and trace elements, protein, fats and complex carbs, it definitely won’t hurt.

My personal celery juice experience

I have been drinking celery juice on an empty stomach for about a month now. I can’t say exactly that it has improved my skin, but I have found that it improves my digestion. It also gave me a nice ritual in the morning, and reduced my coffeine intake significantly. Since I always start my day with a big glass of water with lemon juice, I can’t say that I have felt a big impact on my energy levels. However, I have really gotten back into juicing again, as it is so much fun! I’ve also grown fond of the taste of celery juice so I will probably continue to juice it this year. After all, I’m trying everything to improve my skin for my upcoming wedding this year.

So should I be drinking celery juice or not?

My professional opinion is that you do not need to drink celery juice if you do not like it. It will, however, clearly not hurt to try it out IF you don’t skip any meals throughout the day, eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables, some fruit and lots of fiber, (plant-based) protein and fat. Drinking celery juice is not a dangerous trend. There have been several studies that show that the compounds found in celery are highly nutritious and that eating or drinking celery juice can be beneficial for all sorts of health issues. It will be interesting to see what science will find in the future.

Drinking celery juice will probably continue to be popular in the health world, just because it is kind of fun. And I have actually come quite accustomed to the taste. BUT just because I am doing something does not mean that you have to. Please always keep that in mind. We are all different and there is not one size fits all approach in health.

So if you feel like trying it our yourself, here’s how to make celery juice:

Al-Howiriny, T., Alsheikh, A., Alqasoumi, S., Al-Yahya, M., ElTahir, K., & Rafatullah, S. (2010). Gastric antiulcer, antisecretory and cytoprotective properties of celery (Apium graveolens) in rats. Pharmaceutical biology, 48(7), 786-793.

Cao, J., Zhang, X., Wang, Q., Jia, L., Zhang, Y., & Zhao, X. (2012). Influence of flavonoid extracts from celery on oxidative stress induced by dichlorvos in rats. Human & experimental toxicology, 31(6), 617-625.

Kapil, V., Khambata, R. S., Robertson, A., Caulfield, M. J., & Ahluwalia, A. (2014). Dietary nitrate provides sustained blood pressure lowering in hypertensive patients: a randomized, phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Hypertension, HYPERTENSIONAHA-114.

Kolarovic, J., Popovic, M., Zlinská, J., Trivic, S., & Vojnovic, M. (2010). Antioxidant activities of celery and parsley juices in rats treated with doxorubicin. Molecules, 15(9), 6193-6204.

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