Smoothie Game Strong: Do You Maca?

It seems like every season, a new must have item hits the shelves of health food stores. Just when you think you're at the top of your smoothie game, BAM, there's something new and life-changing that Gwyneth has been drinking for yonks and you're only just finding out about now. Thanks for cluing us in, GOOP! (We love you.) 

Maca is a new (to us) miracle plant that's grown at high altitudes in Peru. It's part of the radish family and has been called "Peruvian Ginseng." It's so effective, you're not supposed to have it every day. Just a tablespoon (and you should build up to that, starting with half a teaspoon) every second or third day. 

It's great for your skin and is rich in vitamins, but the real kicker here is how beneficial Maca is for women. It helps with menstrual issues and menopausal issues, stabilizing moods and alleviating pain. It also give you a sustained boost of energy. Some of that energy being focused... in the bedroom. Yes! It's widely used to boost libido and increase endurance (for men and women). So if you need a boost in that department (hey, we've all been there), maybe you can slip some Maca into your honey's milkshake.

There are a few Maca no no's. Don't mix it with anything hot or it will lose its benefits. Don't consume if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you have serious pre-existing conditions. Basically, if you're already seeing a doctor about something, ask her/him if it's ok to introduce Maca into your diet. It's a bit complicated, but it sounds, and so far feels, like it's worth it. 

And all this when we literally JUST got the hang of Chia seeds. Um, did anyone else experience near Death By Chia Seeds? We added them to a delicious smoothie – almond milk, berries, half a frozen banana, vegan protein powder... Yum, right? We blended everything up and took a big gulp, then had to suffer through choking down a mouth full of splinters. Yeah, we kept drinking it, even as we pictured a thousand tiny shards of Chia wood poking holes in our esophagus. We were hungry and it was the only edible thing in the house! Since then we've learned to soak the chia seeds in almond milk a few hours before smoothie time, then stir the resulting pudding into the smoothie AFTER it's been mixed. Unless you really like the sound of a splinter shake, then go for it! ;)

Chemical free products? Why that's a lie.

Next time you're shopping for eco-friendly products and you see a label that says "chemical free," it might be best to stay away from it. Why? There's one reason:

There is no such thing as "Chemical Free." Water is a chemical.  We are made of chemicals.  If a product claims to be Chemical Free, it can't possibly be true unless the product from Made Up La-La Land.  There are naturally occurring chemicals and synthetic chemicals.  But synthetic chemicals are NOT unilaterally bad for you, nor are naturally occurring chemicals unilaterally good for you (i.e. mercury = naturally occurring = BAD!)  What you need to know is how that individual chemical reacts with the human body and its environment (yes, on top of what bad chemicals do to our body, it can also wreak havoc to our environment when it's washed off and into our water system and drains!).

There's no doubt to the proven benefits of leading a life that's as natural and organic as possible.  But there are two sides to every story and we're here to talk about what it truly means to be safe and natural.

What you can do is use technology. "Think Dirty" but first get your mind out of the gutter!  Think Dirty is an app that allows you to scan your make up and other personal care products for potential carcinogens.   Founded by Lily Tse who developed this app after her mother's battle with breast cancer.  Read about her journey.  

Ok, so if food has the "Dirty Dozen and Clean 15", what does the cosmetic world have?  Chemicals to definitely avoid are: 

Mercury (often masked as thimerosal)
Lead Acetate
Formaldehyde and Toluene
Petrochemicals
Coal Tar
Phthalates

If there's one takeaway from this article, it should be that nothing is cut and dry.  There are arguments from every angle why a certain chemical is good, bad, or ugly.  We encourage every one to do their research. As a company we are constantly researching and reviewing our formulas to make sure we're doing the best we can to provide a natural, safe option for women that's free of parabens and artificial fragrances.  

It is SO Easy to Live Green!

With a face like this, who wouldn't want to be green?

Fall is here, and Fall means green.  We're not talking leaves, we're talking ways to do good for our Mama Earth.  

At BOX, we do what we can - we use biodegradable packaging and wipes, we reduce our carbon footprint by manufacturing in the US.  But there are many many more ways to be green - ways that are as easy as 1,2,3:

Paper - It Has Two Sides:  Like, duh.  State the obvious much?  But how many of us actually USE both sides? Think of how much waste we'd prevent from clogging our landfills if we just flipped it over.  This goes for printing, too.  Use both sides!

Unplug: Think about all the things that are humming along as we sleep - your phone, computer, blender, toaster, hairdryer, lava lamp.  Why not get into the habit of unplugging or shutting down when we're not using our tools?

Take cold showers:  Just kidding.  We would never ask you to give up your hot shower.  But can we ask your clothes to?  Washing clothes on cold or warm means less energy going to heat water, which accounts for as much as 85% of the total energy used.

Meatless Mondays:  Try it!  Not only may you feel better living on a plant based diet, but you will relieve the earth of the enormous stress of raising and sustaining lifestock. 

Go Fragrance Free: Synthetic fragrances can use chemicals that can disrupt hormones and when these chemicals are washed down the drain, they hurt our earth, just like they can hurt us.  Use products made with essential oils or are fragrance free.

Recycle Fashion:  Not only can you find the best stuff in vintage stores (stuff that no one else has - extra bonus), you are helping our earth digest the enormous amount of waste we produce on a daily basis.  

So there you have it.  6 SUUUUPER easy ways to go green.  Just take it from Kermit - 

"When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder? Why Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be."

Coudlnt' have said it better ourselves.