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Arnicare Review and Giveaway

April 10, 2012 1 Comment

Unfortunately my back has been hurting this week! But coincidentally I was contacted the other day about reviewing a homeopathic, pain relief product. Good thing I said yes!

I received a tube of Arnicare Homeopathic Gel for Muscle Pain, Bruising, and Swelling. Arnicare is manufactured by Boiron, and it comes in pellets, tablets, and topical products including a gel, cream, and ointment.

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Natural Dentist Review & Giveaway

February 21, 2012 3 Comments

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Unfortunately I’ve had my share of dental problems. In fact, I just shelled out a pretty penny to have some dental work done, so when I had the opportunity to try Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Anti-Gingivitis Rinse, I jumped at the chance! 

Dentists estimate that 80% of us develop gum disease in our lifetimes. If left untreated, however, gum disease may progress to other oral health issues, including tooth loss, and other studies and experts have also linked gum disease to heart disease, stroke, breast cancer and respiratory diseases.
And some of the risk factors for developing gingivitis include:
  • Poor dental hygiene
  • Pregnancy/puberty/menopause (hormonal changes increase the sensitivity of the gums)
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Genetics/family history (30% of general population susceptible to gum disease)
  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Medications
  • General illness
And the early warning symptoms are gum inflammation and bleeding (pink in the sink). If you have these symptoms or have a family history of gum disease, you should see a denist and stick to a regular at home care regimen.

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Here’s a few facts about Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Anti-Gingivitis Rinse and why you may want to add it to your daily regimen:
  •  Reduce and prevent bleeding gums
  • Protects against gingivitis
  • Kill germs
  • Reduces plaque
  • Freshens breath
  • Contains Aloe Vera gel as its active ingredient to help prevent bleeding gums.
  • Also contains other natural medicinal components such as Echinacea, goldenseal, calendula, and grapefruit seed extract that help calm gum inflammation
My Review: Personally I like that the product contains natural ingredients. Previously I had not tried a mouth wash like that, so I found this feature very interesting, and I was very intrigued that aloe vera was the active ingredient.
Another thing that attracts me to the product is that it doesn’t burn your mouth like a lot of other mouth washes. I don’t always like to use mouthwash or don’t always use it properly (as in, I don’t use the right amount, or I don’t rinse for the right amount of time) because I can’t endure the burning sensation, but with the Natural Dentist brand you don’t have this problem.
I tried the Peppermint Twist Flavor. The taste is very different from other mouth washes, and kind of hard to describe. I’d compare it to the difference between an at-home fluoride or prescription toothpaste versus your basic everyday toothpaste.

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Giveaway! One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a bottle of Natural Denist Healthy Gums Anti-Gingivitis Rinse.
To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.

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Disclosure: I received free product for review but was not otherwise compensated. The opinions are my own. If you have a product you’d like for me to review, please send me an email.

Filed Under: Giveaways, health, product review

Konsyl Fiber Review & Giveaway

February 14, 2012 2 Comments

If you watch enough health related programming (or even enough television commercials) you’ll find that most of use don’t get the recommended daily amount of fiber.  My husband’s doctor recommended that he use regular fiber supplements, so I’m always interested in finding new fiber supplements and fiber rich snacks.
We recently learned about Konsyl, and were happy to try some of their fiber products.

Konsyl is the #1 doctor-recommended all natural psyllium fiber supplement. Konsyl Original and Konsyl Easy Mix psyllium fiber products are all natural, gluten-free and contain no sugar or sugar substitutes. They are safe for celiac patients, diabetics and pregnant and nursing mothers.

     

I decided to try their Konsyl Balance Orange, a blend of psyllium fiber and inulin, a soluble prebiotic fiberthat stimulates growth of healthy bacteria.  I often fix my husband fiber drinks, and I knew he would like this for it’s orange flavor.
And then we also got a bottle of the capsules.  I chose these because I prefer to take a pill over drinking something.  For me, it’s just easier, faster, and more convenient.  However, I sometimes have problems swallowing big pills, so I was happy to see that these were the soft, easy-to-swallow capsules.
All in all, we found the products very useful and convenient.  And we liked that  Konsyl had a variety of products to fit our needs.
Of course, we have a giveaway today from Konsyl, but before we get to that, I was given a couple of recipes to make using Konsyl, and I thought I’d share one with you!
Since spring is coming, I thought it would be the perfect time to share this recipe for Carrot Cupcakes. Yes, that’s right! Carrot Cupcakes made with fiber powder! Excellent!
Recipe for Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
1 cup almond butter
1/2 cup coconut milk (canned, full fat)
2 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
zest of one orange
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
3 carrots, shredded
1 tbsp real vanilla extract
2 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
pinch salt
1/4 cup Konsyl Original
1/2 cup toasted walnuts (optional)
Cream Cheese Frosting
1lbs cream cheese, room temperature
4 ounces grass-fed butter (like Kerry Gold), room temperature
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp real vanilla
extract pinch of salt
Directions: Shred carrots and place in bowl. Cover with maple syrup and let marinate while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.Combine the spices, baking powder, baking soda, salt and Konsyl. In a separate bowl combine the almond butter, coconut milk, eggs, zest, and vanilla. Then add the brown sugar and stir until combine.Add the dry ingredients, stir. Add the carrots and nuts (if using) and stir until well combined. Pour into paper lined or greased muffin tins. Bake for 22-25 minutes at 350. Will make about 24 cupcakes.
Put all frosting ingredients into bowl and mix well with hand mixer for 6-8 minutes until light and fluffy. When cupcakes are COMPLETELY cooled, frost the cupcakes.

Connect: Follow Konsyl on Facebook and Twitter

Giveaway: One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a Konsyl product of their choice.

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.

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Disclosure: I received product samples from Konsyl for review purposes. The opinions are my own.
Filed Under: Giveaways, health, recipes

Survive Cold and Flu Season (Review and Giveaway)

January 24, 2012 2 Comments

Oscillo by Boiron: visit www.oscillo.com

This week’s review and giveaway is all about nipping the cold and flu season in the bud. Boiron has a great line of homeopathic products to do just this, including Oscillo  (Oscillococcinum) and Chestal.

We recently tried Oscillo product in our household and were very pleased with it.

As the one who always seems to be “out in the elements” my husband gets sick more often than me. And since he has diabetes and other medical issues, we often look for natural and homeopathic products for his ailments.

Oscillococcinum is a product that temporarily relieves flu-like symptoms such as feeling run down, headache, body aches, chills and fever. Oscillo has been used in France for more than 65 years, it is the first flu medicine recommended by pharmacists. 

We found it very easy and convenient to use, and we love that it is safe and does not have the side effect that many other cold and flu medications have.

Boiron also makes products for sinus trouble, coughs, and sore throat, and they have a line of children’s products as well.

Children's Chestal by Boiron: visit www.childrenschestal.com

Connect: Visit the Oscillo webpage for more info. Also follow on Twitter and Facebook.

Giveaway: One Simply Sweet Home reader will win their choice of either the Oscillococcinum or Children’s Chestal.

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below. 


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Filed Under: Giveaways, health

Stopain Cold Review and Giveaway

June 29, 2011 2 Comments

If you’ve ever suffered from back pain, leg pain, should pain etc. then you know how important it is to have a good topical analgesic pain reliever.  Whether you suffer from arthritis or just the occasional aches and pains due to work, exercise, and everyday activities, these pain relievers can be an absolute life saver!
Today I’m sharing one of these products with you. It is called Stopain. Stopain is available in four formulations: Stopain Spray, Stopain Extra Strength Spray, Stopain Extra Strength Roll-On and the new Stopain Gel. 
The spray and roll-on formulations feature a convenient hands-free application. Stopain Spray, Stopain Extra Strength Spray and Stopain Roll-on are top-sellers in the topical analgesic category. All Stopain products provide fast, temporary relief of minor pains and stiffness of arthritis, muscle aches and back pain…so you can stop pain and get moving again.
In addition, for every Stopain product sold in 2011, a portion of the proceeds is donated to the Arthritis Foundation  (with a minimum contribution of $25,000).

My husband and I tried the Roll-on product and were very satisfied with it. I used it on my lower back and legs, and my husband has used it pretty much all over! And we found that it was very effective in relieving our pain.  
Apart from the overall effectiveness, we also loved the ease of application offered by the roll-on product.  
In the past we’ve used gels which have to be squeezed out into your hand and then applied to the affected area. I don’t know about you, but I hate getting the stuff on my hands because it seems to magically end up on my clothes, in my mouth or eyes, or on everything else.  
And unlike other “hands-free” products that we’ve used, this roll-on product goes on very quickly and easily.  That is, when you apply it, you don’t have to press down on the skin, which is great! I’d definitely recommend this product to anyone who suffers from aches and pains.

Connect! Follow Stopain on Facebook and Twitter.

Win it!  One Simply Sweet Home reader will win the Stopain Product of their choice.

Mandatory Entry: To enter, please follow the directions on the Rafflecopter form.



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Filed Under: Giveaways, health, product review

Looking for a New Doctor at Vitals.com

June 28, 2011 Leave a Comment
My husband has been dissatisfied with his current doctor for quite some time and is planning to switch to a new doctor very soon.  As you know swapping to new doctor can be a difficult process, but I was recently introduced to a site called Vitals.com, which can help make your search for a new doctor much easier.
Vitals.com is a great source for comprehensive medical information on over 720,000 doctors nationwide. The site offers consumers free information on doctors’ practices and specialties, consumer reviews, recommendations from other doctors as well as free physician profiles.
When you want to find a doctor, simply visit the site and type in the name of the doctor you are interested in learning about.  Not only will you learn about their background as a doctor, including where they were educated and what hospitals they are affiliated with, but you’ll find actual patient reviews as well as ratings on the following: Ease of Appointment, Accurate Diagnosis, Bedside Manner, Spends Time with Me, Follow Up, Promptness, and Courteous Staff. These factors are all big concerns for us in searching for a new doctor, as we’ve had an issue in each of these departments with current and past doctors we’ve seen.  
I think that this site could be a real asset for people who are unhappy with their current healthcare provider, and I love the opportunity that the site gives us as consumers, not only to be more informed about the doctors we choose, but also to voice our own opinions about the doctors that we know.
Check out them today to find a doctor in your area or rate your own.

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Disclosure: I received a donation to my site in return for writing this post. The opinions are my own.

Filed Under: health

Best Price Nutrition Review

June 19, 2011 2 Comments
My husband and I have both taken a number of supplements for various ailments and general purposes. I recently learned about a company called Best Price Nutrition and was given the opportunity to try a couple of their supplements.
The site sells all kinds of vitamins and supplements and has many brands available. The products I received were made by New Chapter, a company so named because they “believe every one of their products delivers a ‘new chapter’ in nourishment, protection or health.”
I’m a very anxious, nervous person and have taken a couple of different supplements for this, so I was interested in finding a new supplemnt to tackle this problem. I got to try the New Chapter Holy Basil and the New Chapter Wholemega.
I’d actually never heard of Holy Basil before this review, but now I’m happy that I did. Upon doing further research, I found that it promotes a positive stress response and an overall sense of well being. It can also help maintain metabolic efficiency, digestion, hormone levels, blood sugar levels, and respiratory health. And it’s an anti-inflammatory.
To see these longterm results, I’d obviously have to take the supplement for more than a week or so, but what I can tell you is that I like the size of the New Chapter product. It is an easy to swallow gel cap, and this is important to me, because I have a hard time swallowing big pills.  And in fact, I do feel that even in the short term it has helped with my stress levels.  So I’ll definitely be ordering this in the future!
I also tried the New Chapter Wholemega, which an omega (fish oil) supplement.  My husband has taken omegas for cardiovascular health, but what I didn’t know is that this supplement can also benefit your immune system and help you maintain brain and digestive health.
Again, I loved the size of this product.  It’s a gel cap as well, and it’s a little smaller than other omega supplements I’ve seen, and you still only need 2 a day, so that’s fantastic.
Check out Best Price Nutrition for more information on these and other supplements.

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Disclosure: I received samples from Best Price Nutrition for review purposes and was not otherwise compensated. The opinions are my own.

Medical Disclaimer: Keep in mind that I’m not a medical professional. Statements about the medical benefits of these supplements has not been evaluated by the FDA and the products are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease. Please see your doctor before taking any new supplements.
Filed Under: health, product review

Relieving Pain and Saving Money with Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products

June 14, 2011 1 Comment
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Previously I’ve mentioned that I suffer from frequent headaches, which means that I always have to have over-the-counter medicines on hand.  One place that I  shop for pain relief products is Walgreens.  I like shopping at Walgreens because they are conveniently open 24 hours a day, and they have a great selection of products, including their own brand of health and wellness products.

Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products are pharmacist recommended, and they are a great value, allowing families and individuals to save money without sacrificing quality or trust. With the rising cost of health care, saving money on over-the-counter medications can really benefit a family’s budget. And most products contain the same active ingredients as other national brands.
And every purchase of Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products supports bringing preventive health tests and wellness services to local communities through the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™.

One product that I like at Walgreens is their Extra Strength Headache Relief.  The product contains acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.  The results are comparable to that of the leading brand, but it costs about $2 less.  This may not sound like much to some people, but the savings definitely add up over time.  Walgreens also offers this product in Quick Gels, which I prefer over the tablets offered by other companies.
There’s also a line of heat patches and heat wraps offered by Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products. I really love using heat patches for muscle pains, but the leading brand is very expensive, considering each patch is a one time use product. So I love that I can save money by purchasing the brand offered at Walgreens.

Do you love to shop at Walgreens? Several bloggers are hosting  giveaways for Walgreens gift cards this week!  Go check it out! Go check it out!
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Filed Under: health, product review

Sea-Band Drug Free Nausea Relief Bands: Review & Giveaway

June 8, 2011 1 Comment
As a frequent migraine sufferer, I’m always looking for products that can help.  I recently had a chance to try these Sea-Band Drug Free Nausea Relief Bands, and I was pleased with the results I got.
Did you know that 28 million Americans suffer from migraines! Are you one of them or do you know someone who does? If so, you understand that these chronic headaches are exceptionally debilitating and, on top of the intense pain, can trigger nausea that makes them even more uncomfortable to deal with (eight out of 10 people who are diagnosed with migraines report experiencing nausea). Plus, nausea makes it difficult to keep down the medication needed to treat the migraine to begin with.
This is where Sea-Band Drug Free Nausea Relief Bands can help. A study conducted at the Berolina Clinik (which specializes in migraine and headache therapy) in Loehne, Germany, showed that 85% of
chronic migraine sufferers who participated by wearing Sea-Band (acupressure wristbands better known for helping people with motion/travel sickness and morning sickness) during a migraine attack reported
positive results:
  • 41 patients participated in the test; participants had, on average, suffered from migraines for more than 26 years.  All participants had forgone the use of anti-emetics (anti-nausea drugs) for the purpose of this study
  • 83% indicated a perceptible reduction in nausea associated with migraine as a result of wearing Sea-Band
  • 44% indicated a significant reduction in overall (collective) migraine symptoms.
  • Relief was reported after an average of 28 minutes of wearing the Sea-Bands
  • Nearly all participants (98%) said they’d use Sea-Band again
How Sea-Band works…
Approved by the FDA, Sea-Band works by exerting constant, gentle pressure on a point on the inner wrist known as the Pericardium 6 (P6) acupressure point. It brings effective relief and can be used before or after the onset of nausea.
Sea-Band has traditionally been used to effectively reduce nausea from morning sickness, travel sickness, chemotherapy and post surgery. The all-natural, drug-free, latex-free Sea-Band does not cause side-effects often associated with anti-nausea medication such as drowsiness, disorientation, dry mouth or possible interactions with other drugs. It’s safe for patients taking prescription medications, pregnant women and children. Packaged in a convenient carry-case, they are washable and reusable, and one size fits most.

For more info on the product, you can also check out Sea Band’s Youtube page.

My Thoughts:  I get several migraines per month.  I would say that three to five are severe, although I may only experience nausea with one or two of them. When I do get the nausea, it often comes on quite suddenly, and I often find that it’s a catch-22:  Often I’ve been lying around on the couch and haven’t fixed myself anything to eat.  The lack of eating makes me feel bad/worse, but then if I finally try to eat something I’ll get the nausea even worse.  
I was anxious to try the Sea-Band anti-nausea bands, because I love to find natural cures and alternatives to medicines.  I’ve tried the bands twice since I’ve had them, and I found that my nausea was relieved within minutes.  Excellent! 

Win it!  One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a pair of Sea-Band Drug Free Nausea Relief Bands.
Mandatory Entry:  You must be a follower of my blog.  Then leave a comment telling us something that you learned from the Seaband website. Deadline: June 21

Additional Entries:

-1 if you like Seaband on Facebook

-1 if you follow @SimplySweetHome on Twitter.
-2 if you blog about this giveaway.
-1 if  you subscribe to Simply Sweet Home via email.
-1 if you like Simply Sweet Home on facebook.
-1 if you subscribe to my RSS feeds through Feedburner.
-1 if you have my button displayed on your site.
-1 for sharing this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook. (Example:  I want to win Sea-Band Drug Free Nausea Relief Bands http://bit.ly/mo2MrR @SimplySweetHome) (Limit one tweet entry per day.)

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Filed Under: Giveaways, health, product review

Feed America with the Pound For Pound Challenge. Plus $30 Kroger Giveaway!

June 4, 2010 126 Comments
The Kroger Co. Family of Stores, General Mills, NBC’s hit television show “The Biggest Loser” and other key sponsors are partnering to donate up to $1,080,000 to Feeding America this year.
Want to help? It’s easy! Just visit Pound for Pound Challenge to make your pledge to lose weight. Through June 30, 2010, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 14 cents to feeding America. That’s enough to deliver one pound of groceries to a local food bank!
I was excited to find out about this program because my husband just started a weight loss program. He is vowing to lose 60 pounds! So I was happy to send him over to the Pound for Pound Challenge to make a pledge!  You should go make a pledge too.  It only takes a minute, and it’s for a great cause!
As the official supplier of the Biggest Loser Ranch and a partner of the Pound for Pound Challenge, the Kroger Family of Stores wants to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. At the Pound for Pound Challenge website, you can find tools and information to help you with your weight loss goals, and you can learn about many of the products that have been featured on the program, “The Biggest Loser.” These include great foods like Yoplait Yogurt and Smoothies, Total cereal, and Multigrain Cheerios. These products are available at your local Kroger Family of Stores and can help you stick to your weight management plan.

To help you to try these General Mills products and get a start on your weight management goals,  Kroger and General Mills are offering one Simply Sweet Home reader a $30 gift card to the Kroger Family of Stores. 

Giveaway Closed. Congrats to our winner, Leigh at One Day at a Time!

-Jerri

Full Disclosure: For hosting this giveaway and passing along this information, I was given a $30 Kroger giftcard. This information and giveaway are provided by the Kroger Family of Stores and General Mills through MyBlogspark.

Filed Under: Giveaways, health, Sponsors
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