Many interesting gadgets and doo-dads have graced the pages of Natural Living Ideas over the years. But, in most cases, they have found their way onto our home kitchen counters, tables, and end tables.
These gadgets can remove toxic substances from the environment, while others can improve the quality and healthfulness of our food. These handy gadgets make it much easier to live a healthy lifestyle.
No matter their purpose, these items have been a boon for our health and are extremely useful.
These are the top gadgets, tools & gizmos every natural living enthusiast should own.
Essential Oil Diffuser
The essential oil diffuser has been featured in several posts and was recently given its feature article: 10 Reasons Every House Should Have An Essential Oil Diffuser.
You can use the essential oil diffuser to alleviate sleep problems, improve concentration, and prevent illness.
Oil warmer
That may seem redundant after the Essential Oil Diffuser. But, dear friends, please bear with me. You can use the oil warmer for much more than aromatherapy!
Natural Living Ideas created ten ways to replace personal care products with coconut oil as part of a series about using Coconut Oil in all aspects of your health. That was based on our own experience and reliable sources. In addition, we shared the Oil Warmer’s best and most therapeutic uses and why it is a must-have natural health gadget. It’s here again in a concise and easy-to-follow form.
Step 1. Choose a day when your hair isn’t in a hurry. Grab your oil warmer.
Step 2 Add a few tablespoons of coconut oil to the candle. Heat oil slowly until it reaches your desired temperature. Mix in essential oils if desired.
Step 3. Massage your scalp with your fingertips.
You will see a better result if you leave the treatment for longer. So, feel free to keep it on your head as long as you like. Then, wrap your hair in a bandana for the overnight oil soak.
Warning This could become an addictive habit. However, the warm oil treatment feels amazing and will give you beautiful, healthy hair.
Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp
One of Natural Living Ideas’ most loved articles, the stunning and healthy Himalayan pink salt lamp, is the current star. These 10 Reasons to Have a Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp in Every Room of Your Home will make you want one!
Stainless Steel Klean Kanteen
We discovered the New Wave Enviro stainless-steel water bottle to be the ideal water transport and delivery system for daily water intake. However, a sturdy, reliable Klean Kanteen has replaced the New Wave Enviro stainless steel water bottle as our BPA-free choice.
The Klean
Kanteen is available in various sizes and shapes. It keeps beverages fresh and insulated without the possibility of releasing toxic chemicals. Kanteens are lightweight and drop-proof (personally tested). A Kanteen owner reported that the handy-dandy container could withstand almost anything, including being used as an emergency hammer or heated over a campfire for boiling water. This handy-dandy canister is a must-have!
Burr Grinder
Coffee connoisseurs use the burr grinder most often to preserve the oils and extract the best flavors from their coffee beans. We also briefly mention the burr grinder in our how-to guide for making incense. It is a simple process for hard, woody herbs such as star anise and cloves.
Blade grinders (i.e., most commercial coffee grinders, food processors, blenders, etc.) The blade grinders randomly chop up the material using a series of sharp blades. This machine can be slow or require “pulsing” to achieve a uniform size of the contents. In addition, the blades heat up and can easily rip apart the food being chopped. That is not good for delicate oils like those found in coffee or herbs.
Burr grinders, on the other side, separate whatever material is passed through them via gear-driven plates. As a result, you get perfectly ground tea, coffee, or herbs, with all their natural oils intact.
You’re missing out if you haven’t tried a burr grinder before. If you prefer an automatic, I recommend the hand-held Cozyna and the De’Longhi.
The Hand Blender
In December 2014, as part of our feature “The Wonders of Eucalyptus Oil,” we suggested using a hand-held mixer to make homemade toothpaste. It makes it creamy and toothpastey. This little gadget has been a great help in every aspect of cooking. The hand blender is much more useful for smaller projects than the heavy, bulky stand mixer. It is easier to clean than a traditional blender and is much easier to use than the double-beater.
I recommend the hand blender from KitchenAid if you have never tried one. This handy gadget is true to its brand and has various fun attachments. It is easy to use, packs well in its case, and looks great in your hand. Must. Have.
Silicone Baking Sheets
We recommended silicone baking sheets to dry fruit leather in our post 16 Amazing Ways to Use Rosehips. Silicone is resistant to temperatures up to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and doesn’t absorb food flavors or odors. It can also withstand high temperatures, making it an excellent alternative to nonstick silicone cooking tools. In addition, silicone baking sheets make cleaning easy.
Himalayan Pink Salt Block
Although Himalayan Pink Salt is not yet on Natural Living Ideas, in its ever-popular HPS block format, we cannot discount the benefits of using it nor exclude it.
A Himalayan Pink Salt Block is naturally anti-microbial, so you won’t have to worry about disinfecting it. In addition, the HP’s slabs can be heated slowly to withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for baking. Most are also attractive enough that they can be used as decorative platters. As if this weren’t enough, cooking on an HPS block adds traces of salts more than 80 naturally-occurring mineral minerals to your food. That is what’s so great about it!
Cast-Iron Skillet
Cast iron skillet was invented in China in around 200 BC. It is still one of the most popular kitchen tools in the world. We recently featured cast iron cooking vessels in our 10 Natural Remedies to Fix Iron Deficiency. They have a lot of health benefits, including the confirmed ability to add significant amounts to all foods cooked within them.
Cast iron can be cleaned well and used for many years.
The GreenPan
The tea kettle and the GreenPan are the only kitchen tools that get as much use on the stovetop as the Lodge cast-iron skillet. (I admit it. This thing)
‘Non-stick’ has been a dirty word in the natural living vocabulary since the dangers of cooking with polytetrafluoroethylene first appeared on our radar. Health risks include possible thyroid dysfunction, immune system degeneration, and flu-like symptoms. You may have even thrown away any Teflon-coated pan you owned.
I have good news for you. We are regaining ‘nonstick.’
The innovative Belgian company allows health-conscious people to reap the benefits of nonstick cooking with its toxin-free, anodized aluminum and stainless-steel cookware. Find one. You will not be disappointed.