Live Well with Leonie

Well now, lookee here!

Who’d’a’thunk it?!

Been saying this for a while.

www.sciencedirect.com

You know I'm all about low-tox living and that I do use all-natural products from my preferred supplier dōTERRA.

I love their cleaning products, they're safe and healthy and you can't say that about most cleaning products.

However, it doesn't mean I don't also use other natural products such as lemon juice, vinegar, bicarb soda, washing soda (aka sodium carbonate), oxygen bleach (aka sodium percarbonate)*, even borax (but make it natural not synthetic), some of which are mentioned in this article.

Interesting to note that dōTERRA's Clean Powdered Laundry Detergent is made from bicarbonate soda, washing soda, and oxygen bleach, and some pure essential oils. It's not only fantastic to use on clothes but also doubles down as a dishwashing powder. Amazing!

So, if you can't be fa**ed to make or buy your own natural stuff, try dōTERRA's! DM me for more info!

Stubborn stains and smells? These affordable laundry boosters may help Is your detergent doing enough on its own? Image Source: JillWellington / Pixabay

It's interesting how things pop up just after you've talked about it eh!

Not conspiracing here but so coincident that, on Thursday, my work colleague asked me the difference between cocoa and cacao.

I explained it to her (it's not about the different spelling btw), then up pops this article in an email.

I reckon there's a few folks who aren't really sure what the difference is so, for your edification and better health, here you go!

Oh, and for the best health benefits, I would be aiming for the highest quality cacao you can find and preferably ceremonial cacao... and that's a different story again!

What is the difference between cocoa and cacao? Cocoa and cacao may look and sound similar, but there are a few key differences. Here’s what sets these chocolatey ingredients apart.

I love making a difference in people's lives, particularly helping them to live a healthier, more natural life.

Nothing quite makes my day more than a new customer sending me pics of their first dishes made in their brand new TM7 Thermomix!

Shared with permission.

"I have just made dinner AND desert - I made enchiladas because I had shredded chicken in the freezer (& was going to throw away!) and berry ice cream for desert.

I just made the berry ice cream and enchiladas in about 30 minutes. I’ve never been able to make dessert before in my life with dinner on a work night, let alone in such a small amount of time.

Being able to use leftover shredded chicken in my freezer was a huge win also. The ice cream itself with the ingredients I think would’ve cost me about five dollars so for me I’m really budget conscious and the second thing is the ingredients. I knew exactly what was going into my enchilada mix and ice cream, and a cherry on top is that It tastes amazing!

I’m blown away... my feedback is exactly the same as 90% of others… I should have got one sooner 😂"

If you're ready to overhaul your foodie life, let's chat!

Why you need a Cutter in your Thermomix life!

Thermomix® Cutter Tips and Tricks – Cookidoo® – the official Thermomix® recipe platform Broaden the possibilities of your Thermomix® with Thermomix® Cutter. One single disc, four cutting functions. Find tips and tricks here.

We thought flea treatments were safe. But scientific evidence is shattering this assumption.

Studies reveal they are severely polluting waterways and poisoning local wildlife.

For decades, pet owners have applied "spot-on" preventative flea and tick treatments, assuming these household products pose no risk. However, active ingredients like fipronil and imidacloprid — which have long been banned in agricultural pesticides due to their high toxicity — are the primary agents in many over-the-counter pet treatments.

When treated pets swim in natural waters, get bathed, or shed their fur, these highly concentrated insecticides wash directly into drainage systems and ecosystems. Alarmingly, recent studies have even found that wild songbirds using treated pet fur to build their nests experience higher rates of unhatched eggs and chick mortality.

In response to these findings, environmental groups and scientific bodies are urging a major shift in how we manage pet pests. Rather than applying heavy chemical preventatives automatically each month, experts recommend a targeted treatment plan and transitioning to oral medications, which minimize surface residue and environmental runoff. A 2026 UK House of Lords committee report highlighted that millions of hazardous doses are applied unnecessarily to domestic animals each year, prompting calls to ban over-the-counter sales of these toxic spot-on formulas. Pet owners are now being advised to consult their veterinarians for eco-friendly alternatives and to strictly avoid letting their pets swim in local rivers and ponds immediately following a topical application.

source: Neill, P. (2026). Calls to ban 'toxic' pet flea treatments that harm UK wildlife and environment. The Guardian.

We can’t always get out into a forest.

That’s why dōTERRA’s Dr David Hill developed a blend called Shinrin-Yoku - the Forest Bathing Blend. The oils in this blend have the same effect on our bodies as walking in the forest and the effect last a long time.

Lower your cortisol (stress) levels, breathe in the calmness and glorious scent of the forest.

Like a sample? Comment FOREST.

🚨BREAKING: A scientist in Japan demonstrated that the air inside a forest can strengthen your immune system for a full month.

Immunologist Qing Li of Nippon Medical School in Tokyo took 12 men on a three-day forest trip consisting of slow walks with no special breathing exercises or set routes.

Blood tests afterward showed a clear surge in natural killer cells — the immune cells that help the body fight viruses and cancerous cells.

The elevated levels were still measurable 30 days later.

A control group that walked the same distance through a city showed no change at all.

Pine, cedar, and cypress trees release airborne compounds called phytoncides as a natural defense. When people breathe them in, these compounds appear to activate immune cells.

Li’s research suggests that one forest walk a month may be enough to keep those cells elevated throughout the year.

Sometimes the best medicine does not require a prescription — just time among the trees.