What’s Hiding in Your Toothbrush?

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Have you ever wondered if your toothbrush was really clean? Unless you pulled it out of a sealed package today, you could be putting some of the most harmful bacteria and other microscopic organisms right into your mouth! Here are a list of things that might be in your toothbrush right now:

• Bacteria – There is possibly more bacteria in your mouth than anywhere else on your body. When this bacteria is removed by your toothbrush and toothpaste, it can then live on your toothbrush for a long, long time.
• Fecal matter & urine – Yuck! But it’s true. When a toilet is flushed, water (and other) particles are launched up to 8 feet in every direction. Fecal matter and urine can also be on your hands, and easily transferred to your toothbrush.
• Hair products – If you’re styling your hair in the bathroom and using any sprays at all, they can land on your toothbrush. Particles can also be blown from your hair while blow-drying your hair.
• Cold & flu virus – Even if you’re not sick YET, virus particles can travel on your hands and other parts of your body before infecting you. Imagine if your family member was sick and you touched something THEY touched, then you happened to touch your toothbrush before you washed your hands. Now the virus is living in your toothbrush!
• Other harmful & harmless germs – There are many airborne germs that can land on your toothbrush even if you’re not keeping in out in the open!

So now that you’re thoroughly grossed out, I bet you’re wondering how to keep your toothbrush clean. Here are a few different ways to clean your toothbrush.

• Clean with peroxide – Pour hydrogen peroxide in a glass and leave the head of your toothbrush in it for about 5 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with water and store to dry.
• Ultraviolet (UV) light – Unfortunately, most of us don’t have an ultraviolet let sitting around, so you’ll have to buy one at the store and follow the directions supplied by the manufacturer.
• Effervescent disinfecting tablets – There are some companies that make tablets specifically designed to clean your toothbrush. But there’s no evidence to support whether or not these clean better than peroxide. Again, follow the directions supplied by the manufacturer.

Have you heard of any other ways to keep your toothbrush clean? Feel free to leave it in the comments before you go!

The 5 Basic Styles Of Tea

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE tea! Here’s a great explanation about the types of tea and where they come from. Great to know!

Madamsabi's Blog

All tea leaves come from the same basic plant, the Camellia Sinensis plant commonly known as the tea plant. It is  native to Asia, but is currently cultivated around the world. It has over 3,000 varieties. The five basic styles of tea are White, Green, Oolong, Black and Pu’erh and the differences between teas arise from processing, growing conditions, and geography. The styles are produced by altering the shape and chemistry of the leaf, rather unromantically called ‘processing’ or ‘manufacture.’

Tea processing is in five basic steps; some teas don’t utilize all of these steps, while other teas repeat them several times.
Plucking: This is when it is picked from the plant and weighted.

Withering: This is a process of allowing the leaves to wilt and soften. This is achieved by spreading the leaves on vast trays or racks, and left to wither in air temperatures of 25-30°…

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Summertime Cheesy Black Bean & Corn Dip Recipe

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Summer is a great time to gather with family and friends, and who wants to spend a lot of time in the kitchen? Not ME! I’d like to share this great Cheesy Black Bean & Corn Dip recipe that I made last weekend. I also have a Creamy Fall-Winter version of it that I’ll share when the hot summer days are gone.  Want to make a fat-free version? Leave the cheese out, or use fat-free cheese!

Cheesy Black Bean & Corn Dip

Yield: 8-10 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: None!

Ingredients:

2 {14-16 ounce} cans of Corn, drained
1 {14-16 ounce} can Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped
3 Green Onions (or scallions), chopped
12 ounces Colby Jack, grated
3 tbsp Lime juice (add more to taste)
1/4 Cup Cilantro, chopped
Salt to taste
Corn or Tortilla Chips for dipping!

If you like it spicy, add 1 {4 ounce} can of green chilis or jalapenos, chopped

Directions:

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Stir until combined and season with salt to taste. Add more lime juice to taste.

Put the dip in the refrigerator for an hour for all of the tastes to combine, then serve with chips and enjoy!