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Celery

Celery is good because it is full of fiber. Fiber-rich foods help produce saliva, which helps to wash away plaque build-up, a cause of halitosis. Carrots and apples are other good fiber-rich snack options.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can help prevent gum disease and gingivitis that are major causes of bad breath. By eating foods rich in vitamin C, you also create an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth. Do eat citrus fruits like oranges, or grab some berries and melons to get your daily dose of vitamin C.

Black Tea

Black tea helps keep your breath smell sweet because it is full of polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that stop plaque from clinging to your teeth. Plaque build-up leads to bad breath, among another dental problems. Studies have also found polyphenols inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth, thus minimizing the foul-smelling compounds that those bacteria produce.

Especially during the cold winter months take these precautions to care for your skin

Stop Using Soap

Winter is also flu season which means you are probably washing your hands more frequently. Your efforts to ward off germs, however, might be the cause of dry, cracked skin on your hands. Lye, the cleanser in most soaps, strips your hands of the natural oils that protect your skin from harsh, dry conditions. For healthier hands, switch to a natural cleanser with kaolin. Kaolin gently removes dirt from skin and has disinfectant properties to help heal inflammation caused by harsh elements.

Switch to Shea Butter

Chapped lips are a common problem during winter, leading most people to reach for a petroleum jelly-based chapstick. Petroleum jelly does not get absorbed by the skin, instead it just sits on your lips until it is wiped off. Shea butter is absorbed by the skin and actually helps improve the moisture retention of your lips.

Creamy, Not Clear

The dry winter air affects hair too. You can protect your hair from harsh conditions by using a creamy shampoo. Clear shampoos, which often contain the cleanser ammonium laurel sulfate, strip your hair of essential oils and leave your hair unprotected. The humectant panthenol, contained in creamy shampoos, will trap and hold moisture, helping prevent dry, frizzy hair.

These general hints come from Suresh Romani via my friend Chhaya Shah

Stop Ants & Mice Invading Your Space

Place cucumber skins near the spot where ants gather or at the ant hole. Ants do not like cucumbers. To discourage mice from entering your space, sprinkle black pepper.

Lemons & Vinegar

To ensure white clothes retain their color, soak white clothes in hot water with a slice of lemon for 1 hour. To get the maximum juice from lemons, soak in hot water for 1 hour before juicing

Add a teaspoon of vinegar to hair before washing to ensure a good shine

Gum

Chew gum while cutting onions, it will help to avoid tears. To remove gum from clothing, put item into the freezer, then pull of gum. Try this for wax as well.

Blanching

To easily remove skins of sweet potatoes, immerse in cold water immediately after boiling. I have found this to work with most vegetables. To remove the skins of almonds, boil, then immerse in cold water. The skins will just slip off. To remove the skins of tomatoes, pour boiling water over the tomatoes, to cover completely. Leave for a minute or 2, then immerse in cold water.