LIVE SMART

The Spartan Race. What are You made of?

2012-01-20T18:33:00.004-05:00

I'm back! Glad to be bringing you more postings to captivate your mind, challenge your inspirations & develop your awareness. What are you made of? What are you capable of? Have your really ever challenged yourself? Are you prepared?

Inspiration: Powerful Beyond Measure (how great are you?) from Ben McDonald on Vimeo.

Compostable Dishes Made From Leaves

2009-11-29T07:57:00.005-05:00

Tableware Constructed From The Fallen Leaves of Trees

I continue to be impressed by the genius and persistence of new young entrepreneurs who take the time to think differently about the world around them and seek to find ways to not only improve the world they live in but create a new paths for humanity to follow while also proving that business can be created and thrive while doing so.

Verterra is a new company producing and selling recycleable / compostable dishes that are stylish, functional and completely environmentally friendly. What started as a dream just a few years ago has now turned into a real company that produces about a million pieces of flatware per month who's products are found in diverse venues such as Whole Foods Markets, football stadium box seats and even the upcoming Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver, B.C. Verterra has received recognition as the Best New Green / Environmentally Friendly Product. The biggest problem Michael Dwork, the company founder, has encountered is that they look so stylish that people might find them to attractive to throw away. He does state that repeat orders stand at ninety percent so that obstacle must be working itself out.

The Verterra products are made exclusively from fallen leaves of trees and water with no additives. How cool? They are designed to be fully compostable & won't contaminate the environment so people can toss them away with food waste and landfills won't need to be littered with polystyrene foam products that are loaded with hazardous chemicals and take eons to breakdown.
Check them out here: Verterra

Read more about the Verterra story here: Fallen Leaves Birth Eco-Friendly Dinnerware Company

Advanced Workout Routine of Total Body Exercises

2009-11-28T06:14:00.005-05:00

A total body workout routine using only free body weight exercises. Time to work off that Thanksgiving feast.

Guys, Drink To Your Heart's Content

2009-11-23T07:15:00.003-05:00

Drinking alcohol cuts the risk of heart disease in men.

A major study involving over fifteen thousand men showed that consuming alcohol every day reduced the risk of heart disease by more than a third. What was even more interesting was that large amounts of alcohol produced an even greater benefit. For those drinking small amounts - less than a shot of vodka a day for instance - the risk was reduced by 35%. And for those who drank anything from three shots to more than 11 shots each day, the risk worked out an average of 50% less. The conundrum is that consuming large amounts of alcohol can contribute to other health related problems so doctors are quick to point out that people should not be encouraged to drink more as a result of this research. The best rule of thumb is moderation. The body has always worked to achieve a state of balance so keep that in mind and figure a drink or two a day probably is all you need.

Human Body Fat Stolen and Sold For Cosmetics

2009-11-20T07:00:00.003-05:00

Peruvian Police Arrest Traffickers of Human Fat For Cosmetics

How far will you go in pursuit of your health and vanity? This sounds like a joke because it is almost unbelievable but I am not making this up. This is another bizarre view of what people will do in deranged pursuits of vanity and monetary gain? It is estimated that the stolen body fat was garnering $15,000 per liter on the black market and was sold to European cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies (this is still yet to be proven). Human body fat has been used in the cosmetics procedure industry but it is usually a persons own body fat which is used to facilitate cosmetic procedures.

The Peruvian police arrested four people and are searching for two more who were allegedly part of an underground ring of individuals participating in the murder of unsuspecting people in remote areas of Peru. The slain individuals then had their body fat extracted, packaged up and sold on the black market.

Makes you wonder a little bit about what is in things we use and consume.

Physical Activity Builds Better Brains

2009-11-18T21:49:00.006-05:00

Elderly people who are physically active may have healthier blood vessels in their brains than do elderly people who aren’t active.

Researchers have found that physically active older adults, those classified as between 60 to 80 years old, have more blood vessels and less twisting of the vessels than those who were not physically active. The brains of those who were active resembled the brains of younger adults. The level of physical activity by the study participants was equal to thirty minutes a day of aerobic activity such as walking at least 5-6 days per week. The moral of the story. Get active to not only build your body but also to build your brain.

Medium Chain Triglycerides(MCT's) The Healthy Weight Loss Nutrient

2009-11-11T08:04:00.007-05:00

Studies show that Medium Chain Triglycerides are an effective agent against obesity and can help facilitate weight loss improving your overall health and fitness. As a general rule regarding saturated fat, if a product has 10 grams of fat and 5-8 of those are saturated it is probably a good idea to skip that food item. If 1 or 2 grams are saturated this is a better choice. The one exception to this rule would be organic, unrefined, cold pressed coconut oil that has a high content of saturated fat but also is a rich source of MCT’s or medium chain triglycerides that are very good and efficient sources of fuel for energy and are not easily stored by the body as fat.

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are a special class of fatty acids that resemble carbohydrates more than fat. As a result, they are more easily absorbed, digested, and utilized as energy. Normal fats and oils contain long-chain fatty acids (LCTs)that are harder to break down by the body and once they are in the bloodstream they are absorbed by fat cells and stored as body fat. In contrast, the medium-chain triglycerides(MCT's)are more water-soluble and are able to enter the bloodstream quicker because of their shorter lengths. Once in the bloodstream, they are transported directly into the liver. Thus, MCT's are an immediately available source of energy and only a tiny percent is converted into body fat. MCT's also facilitate weight loss by stimulating thermogenesis which is the process in which the body generates energy, or heat, by increasing its normal metabolic and fat-burning rate.

MCT’s have been used widely to aid in weight management as the fatty acids found in MCT’s - Caproic (C6), Caprylic (C8), Capric (C10) and Lauric acid (C12) have been shown to improve excess calorie burning. Coconut oil contains about 50% lauric acid. This MCT is which is also found in mother’s milk, helps regulate metabolism and is being studied for its antiviral and antibacterial properties. I personally know individuals who have lost weight by incorporating MCT's into their diet so regular consumption may aid you in weight loss but you must manage your consumption because there are plenty of calories in coconut oil as well. A good rule would be to use no more than 1-2 tbsp per day. A few ways to use it would be to spread it on whole grain toast or sandwiches, mix in with cooked dishes, spread on vegetables instead of butter.

The bad reputation coconut oil has gotten in the past is the result of the bastardized version of coconut oil which is usually partially or fully hydrogenated coconut oil that is highly refined and detrimental to your well being. The virgin, unrefined, and cold processed variety is the one you want. A final note on coconut oil is that it is good for cooking with because of its ability to withstand higher heat without becoming carcinogenic.

Reference:
National Institute of Health: Physiological effects of medium-chain triglycerides: potential agents in the prevention of obesity.
Medium Chain Triglycerides

Your Ipod Can Help You Lose Weight

2009-11-04T22:38:00.004-05:00

New Study Shows How Podcasts Help To Lose Weight

A new study conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that help in losing weight may be as close as the earbuds on your MP3 player. What they found was that a person using an MP3 player and earphones creates a more personal and intimate environment for listening to enhanced podcasts that engaged the listener while aiding them with their behavior modification. The [MP3 player] technology has some advantages over the Internet,” Turner-McGrievy said. “It feels more personal when someone is using earphones, as if someone is speaking directly to you. We want to take advantage of that intimacy and tailor messages that will bring success to people looking for ways to reach a healthy weight. The study participants listening to the enhanced podcasts lost an average of 6.4 pounds in twelve weeks.

Here is a sample of the enhanced podcast. Listen To weight loss podcast sample here

Reference: UNC study: Lose Weight While Listening To Your MP3 Player

What You Need To Know About Multivitamins

2009-11-03T07:39:00.006-05:00

How Multivitamins Can Help Improve Health

In a 24 yr nutritional study by the University of Southern California on 11, 384 men and women it was found that daily consumption of a vitamin and mineral supplement cut death rates in half while also reducing the cancer death rate and heart disease by tenfold.

What Multivitamins Do For You:
They act as a type of health "insurance" to support overall nutrition and may help prevent chronic illness by providing your body with the basic nutrients and micronutrients that too often are missing in the average persons diet.

Why You Need Multivitamins:
Most people don't get all the basic vitamins & micronutrients from the foods they eat during their meals. This is especially true if you don't consume enough fresh vegetables & fruits as well as other whole foods and eat a lot of processed carbohydrates and sugar.

What Type Of Multivitamin To Look For:
You should use a naturally derived multivitamin supplement that is developed using vegetables, fruits, plants and herbs and not one that is synthetically derived. This is because naturally derived vitamin supplements contain ingredients that have a different polarity that the body recognizes and responds to where synthetic vitamins do not. Most synthetic vitamins also use coarse binders and fillers that bind together the ingredients so harshly that often the pills pass through the body without being fully dissolved or utilized by the body. Lastly, in my humble opinion, look for a supplement providing levels equal to 100 to 200 percent of the RDA of vitamins. Some contain higher levels that may or may not be necessary.

New England Journal of Medicine

World's Safest Snow Shovel

2009-11-01T08:17:00.004-05:00

Clears Away Snow 3 Times Faster Than Shoveling
with Half the Effort and Less Risk of Injury

Protect your health, improve your fitness and live more sustainably while saving the environment.
The Sno Wovel™, manufactured and distributed by Structured Solutions II, LLC, is a novel invention solving an age old problem that requires no fuel, emits no noxious fumes or deafening noise to harm the environment or the user and is 100% manufactured here in the United States. The Sno Wovel™ was voted the "Best Invention of 2006" by Time Magazine.

The motivation behind the Sno Wovel™ was the desire to solve the problem of snow shovels and snow removal in a fast, safe, environmentally clean, quiet, maintenance-free way while also being able to conveniently store it away up on the wall saving room and not ruining your back.

It is estimated that there are 72,000 annual emergency room visits associated with snow removal injuries. With gas prices up and baby boomers aging, the Sno Wovel™ helps the environment and makes using snow shovels easier, while reducing body stress, in particular your lower back. It works like a child’s seesaw, the shovel and wheel combination acts as a fulcrum and lever, letting the operator use his entire body strength to move and lift the snow. The uniqueness of the product prompted the University of Massachusetts, a top ergonomics research center, to investigate just exactly how the product works and why it has such positive effects on the human body. The study, confirmed that the Wovel reduces lower back stress to something akin to “simply walking” and dramatically reduces overall physical exertion by as much as 75-80% and more vs snow shovels. So if your looking for a new tool to help you out this winter, check it out. For those of you who don't have to worry about snow, carry on, never mind this post.

For video presentation of this cool product visit The Sno Wovel

Healthy Vegetarian Recipe

2009-10-29T06:47:00.006-04:00

Vegetarian Recipe Of The Day

Basmati Rice, Chickpeas & Toasted Almonds

This is a great vegetarian recipe with a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats using my favorite type of rice, Basmati Rice (an aromatic rice grown primarily in India), toasted almonds and chickpeas which are a common ingredient in Indian cuisine. If you can’t find Basmati rice, try substituting Texmati, Jasmine, or any long-grain rice.

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup Basmati rice
2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 can (19 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

1 In a medium nonstick saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft, about 7 minutes.

2 Add the bell pepper and rice, stirring to coat. Stir in the water, lemon zest, and salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until the rice is tender, about 15 minutes.

3 Stir in the chickpeas and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and toasted almonds at serving time.

Makes 6 servings

Nutrition Information, per serving:
calories 242 • total fat 5g (0.6g saturated) • cholesterol 0mg
• dietary fiber 5g • carbohydrate 42g • protein 8g • sodium 270mg • good source of: fiber, folate, thiamin, vitamin C

Source: U.C. Berkeley Wellness Newsletter

Five Tips To Boost Your Energy

2009-10-27T07:14:00.000-04:00

Drink more water. In many cases, fatigue can be the result of dehydration. So first start by drinking some water. A great way to start your day is to drink a glass of water with a little lemon juice as soon as you wake up in the morning.

Do some low intensity exercise. Taking a walk in the morning or at lunchtime will get your body and mind moving and some research suggests it can boost your energy by 65%.

Stretch and Breathe. Simply doing a few stretches to the major muscles and engaging in rhythmic systematic breathing for a few minutes can rejuvenate your body and mind while lifting your energy.

Get some sunshine. The sun balances and boosts your circadian rhythms so try to get up to 30 min. of it a day. Open your blinds and go outside for a walk.

Eat a high protein snack. A handful of almonds, glass of soy milk, a few bites of chicken salad are just a few ways to get a protein boost that can help boost your brain and body more than a sugary snack that will leave you dragging.

Five More Tips To Boost Energy

Expand Your Mind and Change Your World In 30 Minutes

2009-10-25T07:00:00.004-04:00

You will find the Real News Network an eye opening and refreshing blend of information of substance that your psyche craves amidst the plethora of homogenized garbage assaulting your senses. This thirty nine minute presentation is circa Nov 2008 but substantive in nature. If your a thinking man or woman using more than a fragment of your brain, you will enjoy the discourse, expand your mind and just might be motivated into action to change the world you live in.

Aside from the presentation of Paul Jay, The Real News Network has plenty of interesting aspects of information that you will find much more interesting and absorbing than garbage news and TV that you may have become accustomed to.

Enjoy and hope it expands your mind. Find out more about The Real News Network.

The Real News Network Business Plan

Can You Trust Food Labels?

2009-10-18T08:01:00.000-04:00

The GAO Cites FDA Ineffectiveness and Poor Oversight of Food Labeling

You cannot always trust what you see on a food label on a packaged processed food when it comes to the nutrition content. One government agency is starting to get things moving though. The GAO – Government Accountability Office released a report citing the FDA’s ineffective and poor oversight of food labeling for domestic and international products. According to the report the FDA has failed in its duties and has not conducted routine random sampling to test the accuracy of Nutrition Facts labels since 1990 and the agency only conducted very limited non-random nutrition samples of products whose labels were suspected of being labeled inaccurate. "These findings by the GAO seem to point to another example of how FDA mismanagement is failing consumers. As Congress moves toward reforming FDA's food safety responsibilities, this is another area that warrants close examination and potentially a major overhaul.” Says, Rosa DeLauro, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee in charge of the FDA budget. The Center for Science in The Public Interest (CSPI) regularly files formal complaints with the FDA urging it to stop misleading labeling claims, but the labeling violations have often continued unabated. Recent deceptive claims include:

* Capri Sun beverages were labeled as “All Natural” even though they were made with high-fructose corn syrup (when contacted by CSPI, the company said it was modifying the label). The FDA has failed to formally define the term.

* Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Fruit Juice Snacks depicted fruits on the label and suggested that the product is made from fruit. But the product’s predominant ingredients are corn syrup and sugar. CSPI, but not the FDA, is challenging the claim in federal court.

* Kraft’s Crystal Light Immunity Berry Pomegranate drink falsely claimed that its vitamins A, C, and E will “help maintain a healthy immune system.” The FDA said it would consider placing the issue on its work plan for next year.

* Mars Cocoa Via Brand Heart Healthy Snacks claimed that it “Promotes a healthy heart”, and "reduces" bad cholesterol.” The chocolate candy contains significant amounts of saturated fat, which can raise bad cholesterol. The company has ignored an FDA warning to halt the claim, and the agency has failed to follow-up its demands in court.

* Nestle Crunch Ice Cream Bars have claimed “0g Trans Fat,” but contain 11 grams of saturated fat, which also raises cholesterol levels. The FDA failed to act on a CSPI complaint over the issue.

* Thomas’ Hearty Grains Double Fiber Honey Wheat Muffins label has boasted that the product is “made with whole grain,” but the predominant ingredient is white flour. The FDA issued a weak policy pronouncement on the issue, but has taken no enforcement action.

Another report released this month states that the FDA and USDA are not "kept in the loop" regarding imported foods further exacerbating an already dysfunctional food supply system that is increasingly reliant on food imports to sustain our food supply economy. So, the bottom line here is to be wary but eat smart.

Ref.
GAO Report On Food Labeling
CSPI Report on Accuracy and Truthfullness In Food Labeling

Commando Pull Ups For A Strong Upper Body

2009-10-16T05:21:00.003-04:00

Improve Your Fitness with the Commando Pull-ups Exercise.

How Many Can You Do?

I have been doing pull-ups for years but don't remember ever trying this version. Since I tried this out a few months ago, I now do them intermittently in addition to my other upper body exercises. The most I was able to do was 23. Take into consideration that I have been working out for 27 years so I have plenty of practice. See if you can do the commando pull-ups and how many you can get. Leave me a comment and let me know. Have a good weekend.

Blog Action Day For A Brighter Planet Against Global Climate Change

2009-10-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

Change The World Wednesday's

Blog Action Day is an annual event that unites the world's bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day on their own blogs with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be the largest-ever social change event on the web and this year the focus is on global Climate Change. My post is targeted at building a
Brighter Planet through the 350 Challenge.

Blog Action Day

Brighter Planet's 350 Challenge is inspired by Bill McKibben’s awareness campaign about the importance of the number 350, the parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere that we must aim for if we want to keep the planet relatively safe.

Brighter Planet makes it easier for anyone to get involved in the fight against climate change. On Brighter Planet you’ll measure your carbon footprint, discover simple ways to reduce it, track your progress, and share your experiences. They help people manage and mitigate their environmental footprint through several avenues including free social web applications, web-based campaigns, products, and climate solutions.

Carbon offsets play a crucial role in building a sustainable society. Many renewable energy projects are well suited to produce energy and meet stringent standards, but lack sufficient financing. Carbon offsets fill that void by investing in these projects. To learn more about Bright Planet or climate change click on the link or the 350 Challenge badge below.

Global Warming Facts and Figures

Antibiotic Use In Farming Contributes To Food Borne Illness

2009-10-11T07:31:00.004-04:00

Outbreaks of food borne illness are on the rise and most associated with the increase in contamination by bacteria making it's way into the food supply in greater occurrence and severity. This is a direct result of the dysfunctional food system in need of a major overhaul.

Livestock and poultry farmers use antibiotics to facilitate growth as well as to prevent and fight infections in the animals. An added side effect from the administration of synthetic hormones is that the resulting increase in infections and disease results in livestock farmers using increased levels of antibiotics to try to overcome the infections. This leaves a greater residue in the animal which subsequently can make its way down the food chain to you. These practices also don't kill all the bacteria thus exacerbating the development of drug resistant bacteria. This subsequently undermines the effectiveness of drugs used to combat infections in humans whereby putting people at higher risk of illness and death. To make things worse, many factory farms administer antibiotics as a function of their protocol using them on livestock even though they don’t have an infection.

Here are the simple facts:

1.) There is widespread use of human-use antibiotics in livestock production.
2.) Much of that use is routine and prolonged “subtherapeutic” dosing of animals with antibiotics such as penicillin and tetracycline to speed animal growth.
3.) That use causes food borne bacteria and other bacteria to become resistant to the same drugs used to treat bacterial infections in humans.

This situation has become so serious that even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged the FDA not to approve fluoroquinolones for treating flocks of poultry, but the FDA caved in to drug-industry pressure. As a result the predicted problem has occurred: Campylobacter, which causes food poisoning, is becoming resistant to fluoroquinolones. That will make it harder to treat those illnesses. Salmonella and E-coli contaminations are on the rise while treatment of these infections becomes more difficult. In fact the CDC- Center for Disease Control states that these infections caused problems in treating illnesses with increased rates of illness and death.

Things can be changed. Richard Young, a policy adviser for the Soil Association stated “We estimate that a move to less intensive, more health-oriented livestock farming, could reduce farm antibiotic use by up to 75%. This would help to safeguard the future effectiveness of critically important drugs, and over the coming years, save countless human lives". The University of Vermont has shown that natural pasture raising of dairy cows actually can reduce farm expenses increase revenues and increase production value of dairy cows. These are a few practices that would eliminate much of the need for antibiotic as well as hormone treatment practices making the food supply and environment much safer. How can you go wrong employing methodology that is safer, more financial lucrative, heals the environment, improves health of people and reduces risk of disease?

If you care to get involved, voice your concerns to the FDA commissioner: mailto:CVMHomeP@cvm.fda.gov Main Tel: (301) 827-2410

Ref:
Center For Disease Control
Drug Resistant Staph Germ's Toll Higher Than Thought
Center For Science In The Public Interest
Fluoroquinolone Use in Food Animals
Soil Association

Image: Fotosearch

Microwaving Food Can Make You Sick

2009-10-09T07:19:00.007-04:00

Study Shows Microwaving Leftovers Doesn't Kill Salmonella

We know food safety is a concern for many families and that there are risks associated with eating animal protein. It is also true that people have succumbed to food borne illness such as E-coli or Salmonella. However, we often think that this is due to foods not being prepared properly. You should also consider the issue of how you are reheating foods for yourself and family.

Microwaving food may not provide protection from food borne illnesses like Salmonella or deadly E-coli. The Journal of Epidemiology reports that reheating food in a microwave can be dangerous. They studied a salmonella outbreak and discovered that 100% of the individuals reheating meat leftovers from a picnic became ill while none of the individuals who reheated the meat using a regular skillet or oven became sick. Just some food for thought on this Friday morning. Have a great weekend.

Reference:
American Journal of Epidemiology

Eco Running and Eco Walking. Healthy Environmentally Friendly Way To Exercise

2009-10-07T07:11:00.006-04:00

Change The World Wednesday's

Eco running is simply an act of being conscientious to clean up the environment while your getting some exercise. This can also be done when you go for a walk as well or while out playing with your kids. EcoRunning is the brainchild of Samuel Huber an avid runner and environmental champion. Check out more details about Sam at his site Eco-Runner.

It's practice is simple. The next time you go for a walk or run to get some exercise carry a bag with you and pick up garbage you see along the way. Either dispose of it in the nearest garbage can or when you get home recycle the appropriate junk and discard the rest in the trash. Not only is this good for your health it is good for the health of the environment. This is also a great way to get your kids involved in a healthy environmentally friendly activity to help raise their awareness of environmental concerns. For more information on how to get your kids involved as well as your local schools, please visit
Eco Friendly Kids Program.

Download EcoRunner Kids Fitness Program
More about Change The World Wednesday's

Ecovative Design Makes Natural Products For A Healthy Sustainable Earth

2009-10-06T07:45:00.008-04:00

All natural biodegradable and compostable packaging and insulation for a more sustainable planet.

Ecovative Design makes product packaging that is 100% compostable and biodegradable. It’s made from seed husks and mushroom roots. Their business philosophy embraces a cradle to cradle mindset when developing their products. This focus ensures that their packaging is environmentally friendly through every step of the process and life cycle of the packaging.

The EcoCradle™ sustainable product packaging and insulation products are 100 percent natural using local regionally available agricultural products. For instance, a facility in Texas may use cotton seed hulls whereas a facility in Virginia may use soybean hulls or a facility in China may use rice husks. The products are also fully compostable so they can be used in your garden to add nutrients to the soil while reducing landfill waste.

The production process uses about ten times less energy than production of synthetic materials such as Styrofoam and incorporates no petrochemical in the process unlike the production of Styrofoam. In addition, the pilot plant used in developing the first EcoCradle™ products runs on hydroelectric power which emits no green house gases. Their Greensulate™ sustainable rigid board insulation reduces the amount of energy used to build a home, reduces the amount of CO2 emissions by homes and offers a safer non-toxic affordable insulation alternative. To read more details about this exciting new company and their products please visit EcoFriendly Packaging and Insulation

Reference:
Ecovative Design LLC
PopTech

Mercury Poisoning is a Serious Health Issue

2009-10-05T07:30:00.001-04:00

Mercury poisoning is increasing in the human population but the good news is that if caught early and you employ elimination strategies, then many of the side effects are often reversible.

Mercury, a common POP (persistent organic pollutant), is commonly found in the environment as a result of burning fossil fuels and in high concentrations can cause serious harm to your health. It is transformed by bacteria in the environment into methylmercury which is extremely toxic. These toxins most often enter the food chain through water and water runoff, dumping by factories, and inefficient disposal. From there they enter into food sources such as plants, fish, shellfish and animals which are then consumed by unsuspecting human consumers. Methylmercury is also an agent that undergoes biomagnification. This means that as the it travels along the food chain it increases in concentration. The higher up the food chain the greater the concentration as is the case with tuna fish. Serious side effects of mercury toxicity include birth defects, blindness, deafness, and mental deficiency. Symptoms of mercury poisoning

* Impairment of the peripheral vision
* Disturbances in sensations ("pins and needles" feelings, numbness) usually in the hands feet and sometimes around the mouth
* Lack of coordination of movements, such as writing
* Impairment of speech, hearing, walking;
* Muscle weakness
* Skin rashes
* Mood swing
* Memory loss
* Mental disturbance
* Swollen lymph nodes
* Fatigue
* Loss of balance
* Inability to concentrate
* Diminished intelligence
* Impaired social behavior

Two important suggestions would be to use a water filter to purify your drinking and cooking water. Secondly, to prevent mercury poisoning in children do not feed fresh or canned Albacore or White tuna fish to your children more than once a month if they are under 6 yrs old and no more than twice a month if they are between 6 and 12 years old. This is due to the high mercury content and its effects on the brain sometimes resulting in diminished mental ability, coordination and problem solving skills. Chunk light tuna is better but still should be limited to no more than three times per month. This applies to women of childbearing age as well since mercury harms unborn fetuses. It is unfortunate that a mother also exposes her newborn if she has mercury in her system since it travels into the breast and breast milk. As a matter of fact, the highest levels of these contaminants are found in breast milk. That being said, mother’s milk is still the best food for babies. The massive nutrient value in balanced amounts is best at helping to develop a strong immune system for babies. So, don’t quit breast feeding just eat and drink smarter. It would also be a good idea to limit consumption of shellfish. For more information see Mercury poisoning causes, symptoms and treatment

Ref:
Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning
Mercury Factsheet
Remove Heavy Metals Like Mercury From Your Body
Image: Fotosearch

Sunday Smart Living Tips For Health, Wellness, Peace and Happiness

2009-10-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

Twenty Five Simple Tips To Help You live a Healthy and Happy Life.
Practice them regularly

*Eat at home more often
*Eat 3 meals and 2 healthy snacks a day
*Take time to spend time with your family
*Use smaller plates to give the appearance of larger portions
*Eat Less by cutting your portions in half
*Get up 15 minutes earlier & Go to bed 15 minutes earlier
*Pack your lunch and snacks
*Think differently about meals: eating salads, wraps or whole grain bread with vegetables can be a breakfast too
*Drink more pure filtered water
*Quit buying $4 cups of coffee. Coffee is the most widely pesticide sprayed crop in the world.
*Get organic if you’re going to drink coffee and make it at home
*Learn a new skill or hobby like playing an instrument or self defense course *Remember at least 21 days of consistent commitment is what it takes to develop a new habit or change existing patterns then it is a “walk in the park”
*Get involved in a cause(s) Have a sense of purpose Give back Spend less Save more *Use your brain. Learn to speed read or practice crosswords or other intellectually complex game
*Read more books
*Take time to get a little sun exposure on your skin
*Use a Superfood supplement with probiotics
*Don’t drink beverages with high fructose corn syrup
*Eat raw foods more often and not always cooked foods
*Get a dehydrator, it can warm food without cooking and can make great healthy snacks that will last a long time in the cupboard or fridge
*Think healthy productive thoughts
*Make time to visualize your goals and plans. Visualize yourself in complete state of wellbeing, healthy and vibrant
*Cherish your friendships
*Take 3-5 deep breaths several times a day
*Live-Love-Laugh and Be Thankful

Sure there are plenty of other smart tips but this list should get you going in the right direction. Have a great week.

Chronic Childhood Diseases Linked To Chemical Exposure Are Increasing

2009-10-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

Phillip Landrigan gave a sobering presentation to a group of over 150 top scientific and medical professionals on the state of our children's environmental health. The news was not great. He outlined the fact that over $55 billion dollars each year is spent on chronic childhood diseases resulting from chemical exposure and this situation has been surging in recent years.

Who is Phillip Landrigan and why should you care? Dr. Landrigan is the Harvard educated professor and Chairman of the Preventative Medicine Department as well as the Director of the Children's Environmental Health Center at Mt Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr. Landrigan went on to point out that children are much more susceptible to the adverse effects of environmental contaminants and the environment is extremely significant as a determining factor in overall health.

Many of the common chronic childhood diseases such as Asthma, allergies, learning disabilities etc. are linked to environmental contaminants and there are over three thousand chemicals used in high volume for which there is no publicly available toxicity information. This is particularly significant given the fact that children would require much less exposure to a contaminant to have a similar response as an adult.

Read more about Children's diseases linked to chemicals

Reference:
Organic Consumers Association

Image:Fotosearch

Enjoy The Ride. Twenty Tips For A Positive Life

2009-10-02T08:00:00.001-04:00

Life is definitely full of challenges and too often it zips by without fully appreciating the simple things that bring harmony or we forget to practice simple strategies for a better life. Here is a great video presentation of twenty tips for a positive life. It is food for thought that will instill a sense of balance and help you to Enjoy The Ride. (click the Enjoy The Ride link to be taken to the video)

Reference:
Inspired Lemonade

Ridiculous Bogus Exercise Device

2009-10-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

It seems as though other countries are not immune to bogus exercise devices and marketing of shoddy products for health and fitness. Here is an ad that I am sure will make you laugh with disbelief. It reminded me of the old 1970's adds for the machines that would shake your gut and butt as a means to shake the fat off or the 1980's passive exercise machines that did the work for you. If any of these things really worked they would be everywhere and everyone would be using them. There may be another motive for purchasing this thing, you will see what I mean. Warning, be prepared to bust a gut laughing. Hope you enjoy it.

Junk Food Marketing In Schools

2009-09-30T06:49:00.007-04:00

Food Industry Suggests Change But Maintains Marketing To Children In Schools and A New Bill In Congress Will Evaluate School Based Marketing.

Given the fact that the incidence of childhood obesity and diabetes has grown to epidemic proportions with millions of young boys and girls being affected, you would think that schools would have stepped up their involvement in combating this situation by completely eliminating the marketing and sale of junk food and low nutrition quality foods to students. Sadly this is not the case.

It is a sad fact that companies have heavily marketed their junk food products in schools for years and it has only trended in a more saturating direction. The rising concern over childhood obesity and diabetes has caused some attention to this situation so in a preemptive move the food industry has issued a set of new marketing guidelines through a self regulating body called the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative. This organization is funded by the food industry giants including Burger King, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Hershey Company, McDonald's, Campbell Soup Company, and other major food companies.

Here is the conundrum. The initiative's statement,Fact Sheet On Elementary School Advertising Principles, suggests that the member companies will stop direct marketing to children in elementary schools. However, they can still sell their products in schools, they will still be advertising in schools by sponsoring PSA's, educational materials and curricula. They can also advertise on vending machines, display racks, lunch tray liners, label collection, and even menu boards. What is really changing here? Sounds like just shifting marketing strategies to me.

Here is a suggestion, eliminate the sale of junk food in schools, eliminate junk food vending machines and offer higher nutrient quality foods in vending machines, eliminate all advertising of food products in schools - No sponsored ads, no tray liners, no mascots or spokespersons like Ronald Mcdonald allowed, no junk food candy sales, no marketing of food as a reward such as is the case with Pizza Hut's marketing program that is allowed under these new guidelines. Serve real food with plenty of raw food choices.

The new legislation introduced this month, H.R. 3625: Food Marketing In Schools Assessment Act, will seek to evaluate the state of food marketing in schools as well as the nutritional quality of food served in schools to address the childhood obesity epidemic. Let's see if anything truly effective will result from this new bill.

Ref:
Center For Science In The Public Interest

Lower Your Cholesterol and Improve Your Ratio

2009-09-28T06:37:00.006-04:00

What you eat in your diet can lower your cholesterol and improve your cholesterol ratio. The American Heart Association recommendations would be to limit meat consumption to only lean meat or poultry no more than 6 oz per day. Take the skin off chicken or other poultry. Opt for white meat over dark meat poultry cuts. Cut fat off steaks. The best way to reduce bad cholesterol would be to eliminate animal protein altogether. Use lower fat dairy products such as part skim white cheeses (no cheddar or colored cheeses), 1% milk, and Kefir (a cultured dairy beverage). Don't forget to exercise regularly (3-6 days per week) because this raises the levels of HDL (good cholesterol. Eat more mono-saturated fats (olive oil, sunflower oil, almonds, and walnuts) they also improve cholesterol ratios. Don’t smoke, among the other hazardous effects that it produces, it lowers good cholestero (HDL) levels as well.

Plants by nature have an essential role in reduction of cholesterol in the bloodstream. The compounds referred to as Sterols naturally occurring in plants have been found to lower the levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is beginning to participate in support for plant based substances as a means to improve health conditions prominent in much of our society. One such claim is that they now admit and support the benefits of plant sterols as a means to reduce the risk of heart disease supporting the AHA’s commendation of these substances. The specifics are as follows: FDA claims that foods and products containing at least 0.65 grams per serving of plant sterol esters, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily intake of at least 1.3 grams (or 0.8 grams sterols) as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Additional research shows that plant sterols combined with exercise and a reduced fat diet can effectively reduce cholesterol up to 15%. These healthy plant sterols are fat like substances that occur naturally in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and grains. They work essentially by lowering the bad cholesterol (LDL - Low Density Lipoprotein)without affecting good cholesterol (HDL - High Density Lipoprotein). Since these sterols are highly concentrated in the oils of these food sources many are removed from the daily diet due to food processing industry or people focusing on eliminating fat (especially beneficial fats) from the diet. What is to be understood here is another example of how beneficial fats are to our overall health as part of a balanced nutritional program. Coupled with mono-saturated, poly unsaturated omega 3 & omega 6 fatty acids, the sterols are an added nutritional punch from plant based oils.

TruVia and PureVia (Rebiana): The Beverage Industry's New Sugar Substitute

2009-09-27T07:00:00.004-04:00

Are The Beverage Industry's New Sugar Substitutes Really Safe?

If you drink soda but are trying to be healthier in your choices by drinking some of the new products of the beverage industry which contain the first zero-calorie, synthetically derived version of the sweetening agent in Stevia, you should also consider some of the facts about these new sweeteners.

Both contain Rebiana which is derived from Reboside A the chemical in Stevia responsible for the sweetening effect of the plant.

It is the first sweetener used by the agribusiness and beverage industry that is not strictly a chemical. It is a derivative of the Stevia Plant. Stevia has been shown to have some positive benefits related to health. Whether or not this is translated in to newly derived sweeteners is yet to be determined.

The research conducted on Rebiana has been funded by Cargill (a chemical company conglomerate) which is the producer of this synthesized sweetener for the beverage industry.

Much of the research on Rebiana has been deemed poorly constructed scientific data.

Neither of the sweeteners TruVia and PurVia have actually been tested prior to being released by the FDA for use. The science used was that done on Rebiana itself and not the modified forms of Rebiana used by the beverage industry.

The Food and Chemical toxicology report was released at the same time as the Coca Cola PR campaign for TruVia & products containing it.

There appears to be, based on the Cargill funded research, no overtly toxic effects.

Although the research evaluates and suggests there isn't severe toxic effects, there is no research data outlining the side effects. The implications of side effects should not be dismissed lightly. Take for instance Olestra (sucrose polyester) which was a fat substitute developed by the chemical industry. Although it wasn't overtly toxic, it caused several side effects from mild to severe which could also result in nutritional deficiency resulting from malabsorption of nutrients by the body.

The moral of the story: Think Before You Drink. Perhaps these new sweeteners will prove to be the first synthesized sweeteners not to have serious health related complications and even prove to be somewhat beneficial for conditions such as metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Time will tell as you will be the guinea pigs determining that outcome.

Top Ten List Of Healthy Nutrition Supplements

2009-09-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Here is a list of my personal top ten health and wellness nutrition supplements that I personally use and would recommend other people to use to improve their health, lose weight, increase energy, fight fatigue and pain, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce risk of cancer and arthritis and a whole heck of a lot more. If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I will try to help you the best way I can.

1.) Perfect Food Berry by Garden of Life
2.) Greens Plus Berry by Orange Peel Enterprises
3.) Earth's Promise by Enzymatic Therapy
4.) Go Greens by ToGo Brands
5.) One "N" Only by Superior Daily Multivitamin by Pure Essence Labs
6.) Primal Defense Probiotics by Garden of Life
7.) Barefoot Coral Calcium Plus by Natures Benefit Inc.
8.) Flax Seed Meal by Bob's Red Mill & Flax Seed Oil Spectrum Essentials
9.) Raw Honey - different companies but always raw source.
10.) Agave nectar - Madhava
**bonus - Coconut Oil, Virgin Unrefined and Cold Processed by Nutiva

These particular products will put you on your path to becoming healthier than you have been in years. One suggestion would be to start out a new healthy regimen by doing a 10 day Cleanse by Garden of Life. It is quick, simple and easy to follow. This jump start will commit you to focus on your health and really jump start cleansing you system while creating a foundation to build superior health and well being. Now get rockin and keep me posted on how your doing.

By the way, if you are quite unhealthy when you start following a healthy regimen of these powerful nutrients, you may find that the first couple days you may not feel so much energy or vitality because your body is purging the toxins etc. Give it at least fourteen to twenty one days of consistent commitment and I guarantee that you will feel fantastic, probably better than you have in years.

Image: Fotosearch

How To Eat Healthy and Organic For Less Money

2009-09-24T08:00:00.002-04:00

Trying to eat healthy organic food is often a daunting task for people looking to keep their grocery budget from eating their entire paycheck. While it is true that eating organic food is definitely more expensive than opting for highly processed low grade food products, you still can make a few changes to incorporate wholesome organic food into your shopping list without breaking the banks. The trick is to choose wisely and consider modifying a few menu items.

The trend toward organics continues to grow with over 70% of consumers consuming organics at least some of the time. Although, people may think that organics is only purchased by those having a higher family income, in reality the total household consumption is split with many of these households having a total income below $50,000 per year. If you are spending an additional $200 per month on food that is organic, this can be a much larger financial impact on the average household income.

The point of this post was to provide an option for saving money on organics. Well, I came across a great article to help save you money by learning how to Eat Healthy and Organic On Only $7 A Day Follow that link and it will help guide you with strategies to put a little more money back in your bank account while allowing you to eat a little healthier. There are some simple yet smart changes you can make so go check it out.

Reference:
Eating Healthy and Organic on $7 a Day

Change The World Wednesday's

2009-09-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

Time for Change The World Wednesday's again. I have been a bit tied up this week so won't go into detail about this weeks challenge but here is a little hint. How can you get your kids involved in sustainable living & green living activities? One way would be to use Moolah Maker. Check it out it's really cool. I discovered it in an article by Derek Markham. If you click on the image in this post you will be taken to Reduce Footprints Blog to discover this weeks challenge and more details. Good luck.

Two Exercises To Add To Your Total Body Workout Routine

2009-09-22T08:00:00.003-04:00

Today's post is for the Tight Body Tuesday's program where I often feature a workout or exercise routine to help add variety with effective plans to help you improve your fitness and re-shape your body.

Here are a couple new exercises to add to your workout routine. Let me know if you can do the first exercise (advanced plank) without putting your hand down or falling over. The second one (sumo wood chopper) is just a variation of a squat with a weighted medicine ball. Why not try alternating the two exercises doing 5-10 reps of the plank and 10-15 reps of the sumo wood chop for two or three rounds. For an added cardio burn, try doing jumping jacks or skipping rope for 30 seconds to 1 minute after each set. You could get this done in less than 15 minutes before work and start your day off right. Good luck.

Live Smart Receives An Award

2009-09-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

Guess what? I received an award for my blog. The Superior Scribbler Award. Brian at Oldman's Cantankerous Point of View™ has passed along to me the Superior Scribbler Award. This marks the first award that Live Smart has received. I want to say thank you to Brian for being a loyal reader and acknowledging my pursuits.

In keeping with the spirit of this award you can click on the photo of the award in this post to review the guidelines. If your a recipient of this award from me then please visit this post for the information on the guidelines for the award. In the meantime, I am going to pass this award along to five of my blogging friends who I feel should receive the same compliment as Live Smart has.

I hereby pass this prestigious award to the following bloggers.

Small Footprints at Reduce Footprints

Marian at ElderWoman Blog

Elizabeth at GaiaTribe

Alex at Cooking For Assholes

Mrs. Green at Little Green Blog

If your a winner of this award please visit This Blings For You and add your name to the Mr. Linky List at the Scholastic-Scribe's blog. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who wins this prestigious Award!

The Fat Tax Is Coming

2009-09-20T08:00:00.002-04:00

I had been hearing about a potential "fat tax" to be levied on the beverage industry that would raise the price of a 20oz. bottle of soda by fifteen to twenty percent. The proposed tax would be one cent per ounce of beverage. This is just another tax in the list of increases that will continue to grow as the need to garner money for repairing current deficits as well as for funding programs in state and federal governments also continues to grow. For instance, several states have already increased their state sales tax rates.

This new "fat tax" is targeted toward accomplishing two major objectives. One, to raise money to fund new health care initiatives by raising an estimated $14.9 billion in just it's first year. This money will help to offset expenditures related to the obesity problem which is figured to account for almost $14 billion per year of the total $147 billion health care expense. Secondly, the goal is to stem the tide of the overweight and obesity epidemic in this country by steering people away from consuming these beverages. It is in some way a viewed as a prevention strategy for improving health and reducing health care costs associated with obesity which can also reduce the diabetes epidemic as well.

Some research has shown that eliminating sugary beverages has led to a decrease in weight and that just one bottle of soda can lead to a 60% increase in obesity risk in young teens. The recent push by doctors and researchers at leading institutions like Harvard and Yale University as well as Boston Children's Hospital are advocating such a tax as a step in the right direction to reduce the risk and occurrence of obesity as well as providing needed funding to support health care initiates through a prevention strategy that will save money. Sounds good to me since I am not a fan of sugary beverages and especially not one of high fructose corn syrup which is increasingly implicated as a major contributor to the obesity problem. We will have to see what happens but I imagine it will pass in some form just like the sin tax on cigarettes.

Reference:
Soda Tax Wins Health Experts Support

Live Longer By Following This One Simple Guideline

2009-09-19T08:00:00.004-04:00

The one simple guideline that could help you live thirty percent longer than expected is calorie restriction. Research on mice has shown that eating a healthy diet but reducing the total daily caloric intake by 30% increased their lifespans by 30-40%. So if your daily intake is based on the average of 2500 calories per day that means cutting out 750 calories per day. It is a bold move and for most people extremely challenging. Being able to stick to that regimen would be an effort no doubt. Additionally, it is imperative that your food choices contain high quality food sources to obtain enough essential nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, mineral) to keep your body healthy.

If you want to further increase your longevity chances, then you should additionally consider eating foods that comprise the Mediteranean Diet which has been shown to reduce the potential for chronic degenerative diseases such as heart disease. For this calorie restricted diet to have a fully beneficial effect, you must also consume a diet that will decrease your risk of getting cancer so you should consider maintaining an optimum pH balance in your body by consuming Superfood supplements along with plenty of fresh cruciferous vegetables, fruits, and green leafy vegetables.

I like to eat so for me, most likely it will be eating healthier and keeping the calories maybe 10-15% less depending upon the day. What can I say. I like my food. Would you cut your calories that much for the rest of your life in order to live a little longer and potentially disease free?

Interesting article: Slowing The Aging Process

Potential Health Risks Associated With Vaccines

2009-09-17T08:10:00.013-04:00

There is obvious controversy surrounding vaccinations for all types of diseases and often the concerns are valid due to a heightened risk of serious or deadly complications. Many of these side effects are a result of ingredients (adjuvants) or preservatives contained in the vaccine. Given the fact that we are now entering the flu season, I thought it may be useful to provide some additional information regarding vaccinations.

I had featured Barbara Loe Fischer in a previous post discussing information about vaccines from the National Vaccine Information Center, a non-profit advocacy group, which seeks to prevent injury and death resulting from vaccines. Below is a video presentation by Mrs. Fischer discussing very important information regarding the Gardisil Vaccine and Swine Flu Vaccine. It is worth a few minutes of your time. May you find it enlightening and helpful.

Another reason this is significant information now is because Congress is back in session and the bill, HR2618 Vaccine Safety and Public Confidence Act of 2009 is sure to be back on line. This offers you, the American citizen, an opportunity to get involved in support or opposition of this bill should you feel so inclined.

Reference:

National Vaccine Information Center
HR2618
Gardisil and Swine Flu Vaccines May Be Risky
Flu Preparedness
Swine Flu Update

Sugar's Damaging Health Effects On Your Immune System

2009-09-16T08:00:00.002-04:00

We are heading into the cold and flu season here in the U.S. so it is wise to consider your dietary habits as they relate to your immune system health. The bottom line, excess sugar suppresses immunity. Studies show that downing 25 grams of sugar, roughly the amount in two cans of soda or piece of sugary pastry, is enough to knock your immune system down for hours. The immune suppression was most noticeable two hours post-ingestion, but the effect was still evident five hours after ingestion.

If you really load up on sugar, say about 100 grams (20 teaspoons, it can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by up to 40 percent. The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours. In contrast, the ingestion of complex carbohydrates, or starches, has no effect on the immune system.

Simple sugars, including glucose, table sugar, fructose, and honey caused a fifty-percent drop in the ability of white blood cells to engulf bacteria. In contrast, ingesting complex carbohydrates(starch) does not hinder the immune response or impede the white blood cells ability to conquer bacteria. Improve the health and fitness of your immune system by eating less simple sugar and more complex carbohydrates.

The way to supercharge your immune system and reduce the potential for sickness is to eat plenty of raw fresh vegetables, greens, fruits, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Avoid sweetened, caffienated beverages, sugar laden pastries and snack bars, soda, sugary cereals, and read your labels. If your a woman, keep you sugar intake to no more than 25 grams(100 calories) per day total and men no more than 37 grams(150 calories) total from all food sources.

Stress also suppresses immunity, so be sure to manage your stress levels through exercise which also boost your immune system and deep breathing exercises that will help you stay relaxed.

Reference:
Dr. Sears
Seventy Six Ways Sugar Can Ruin Your Health

Vegetarian Diet Health Risk and MSG Excitotoxins

2009-09-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Vegetarians beware! There are a few nutritional and health issues to consider if your on a vegetarian diet but the one I want to focus on today is that many foods labeled as "vegetarian" contain substances known as Excitotoxins. Excitotoxins have hyper-stimulating and destructive effects on brain tissue that can lead to a variety of health problems especially in more sensitive individuals. A primary Excitotoxin is MSG. Excitotoxins have been shown to cause destructive lesions in the hypothalamus and a increase in endocrine organ disorders such as infertility, menstrual difficulties, polycystic ovaries, and other reproductive problems. They are also implicated in early even subtle damage to a developing brain that can cause severe changes in personality decades later in life. As well as potentially cause autism, learning disorders, hyperactivity and schizophrenia.

Some people are more naturally sensitive due to lack of key enzymes in their body or due to deficiency in certain nutrients such as calcium, vitamin C and vitamin E in their diets. Many processed prepared vegetarian foods contain hydrolyzed vegetable protein which is a disguised form of MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). Many contain hydrolyzed soy protein which according to Dr. Russell Blaylock creates a greater concentration of glutamate excitotoxins than other forms of hydrolyzed protein, so if you’re suffering from headaches, anxiety, fatigue, lethargy, forgetfulness or other problems then you better get off these products immediately. It would be a good idea to avoid these products at all costs anyway. Once again eating less processed food is better for you. One popular item among vegetarians is Bragg’s Amino’s and according to Dr. Blaylock, it is suspect as well. The full details are not able to be garnered from this product but it may contain high levels of excitotoxins so use them at your own discretion.

Here are some other key buzzwords to look out for in packaged processed foods: any hydrolyzed vegetable protein, hydrolyzed plant protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, broth, caseinate, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, yeast extract, autolyzed yeast extract, textured protein. These are all forms of disguised MSG

The vegetarian diet is still a much healthier diet overall compared to the high protein, high saturated fat diets of the typical American. You must however choose your food products wisely to avoid potential health related issues.

Reference:
Truth In Labeling. Who Are The Glutes
Natural News
Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills By Dr. Russell Blaylock pg 68 & 223
Video: Dr. Russel Blaylock Presentation

The Fast Food Salad Misconception With Calorie Breakdown

2009-09-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

When trying to cut calories or choose a healthier option, people will often tend to get the salad selection at fast food restaurants. There are definite advantages of having a salad. The fact that your eating low calorie nutrient dense raw vegetables that contain healthy enzymes and vitamins makes these a wise choice. However, too often they come with extra toppings and artery clogging dressings that are also loaded with high fructose corn syrup which also a primary ingredient linked to the risk of obesity and heart disease. The point here is be smart about your choices. If you have a protein source like chicken on it, get it grilled not fried. Don't put the extra bacon bits, Asian noodles etc. on top. Instead of the package of ranch or blue cheese dressing or other ones, choose the oil and vinegar option and use the oil sparingly. Try using just the vinegar or even just some lemon juice. You will save hundreds of calories, eliminate several grams of saturated fat and sugar and you will have made a better choice for your weight and health. Here is an interesting video breakdown of a typical fast food salad. So be smart the next time your making choices to improve your health and fitness. Enjoy.

How Music Affects and Improves Your Health

2009-09-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

I personally love my music and always have and can attest to the fact that it has had a positive affect on my health, focus, drive and clarity. Numerous studies have shown that music can have profound physical, psychological and even intellectual effects on your health. Rock and roll is what I grew up on but expanded my tastes as I got older. Now just about all genres and styles appeal to me depending upon how I feel or what I am doing at the time.

Music has been shown to affect animals. One study conducted with mice was quite telling. Mice were subjected to heavy metal music or classical music to see if there would be an affect on their speed of learning. Interestingly, the mice subjected to heavy metal performed worse than the classical group and their intellectual problem solving skills diminished. The first experiment actually had to be cut short because the mice subjected to the heavy metal music ended up killing each other.

Music has even been shown to affect plants. A Colorado college researcher, Dorothy Retallack, conducted experiments working with plants exposed to various genres of music in a controlled environment. The net result was that the plants exposed to some classical or jazz music grew toward the source of the sound, grew fuller and more vibrant. The plants exposed to hard rock grew more stunted, had less leaves and grew away from the music source and most of these plants died in just over two weeks.

Positive music alternatives to incorporate into your life should include cutting edge music technology that enhances the brain wave patterns of different states of consciousness. This can greatly enhance your ability to focus, learn, relax, create and restore. One such system is Hemi-Sync®. It is an audio-guidance process that works through the generation of complex, multilayered audio signals, which act together to create a resonance that is reflected in unique brain wave forms characteristic of specific states of consciousness. The result is a focused, whole-brain state known as hemispheric synchronization, or Hemi-Sync® where the left and right hemispheres are working together in a state of coherence. Hemi-Sync® produces a focused, coherent mind, which is an optimal condition for improving human performance. For more detailed analysis, please read How Hemi-Sync® Works

The point here is that to improve your health, clarity and intellect, it is a good idea to incorporate an appreciation for music and music diversity into your life. Develop a taste for different styles of music if all you listen to is hard head banging rock. One way to do this would be to try finding string versions of some of your favorites. My buddy found some great string versions of some of the most popular rock bands today. Search around, you would be surprised. Utilize some of the specially developed brainwave synchronizing music to achieve the desired effects your pursuing. Have a great week.

Reference:

Psychology of Music
Music Plant Experiments
Harmonic Sounds
Hemi-Sync® Research Papers
Cell Phone Safety

Image: FotoSearch

Microbial Fuel Cell Technology Generates Electricity From Dirt

2009-09-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

Lebônê Solutions, Inc. is a social enterprise organization working in off-grid energy delivery and lighting technology using cutting edge clean energy technology. This innovative group was founded in 2007 by Aviva Presser Aiden & Hugo Van Vuuren to help meet the need for off-grid energy and lighting in the developing world.

Using microbial fuel cells, Lebônê’s technology generates electricity from soil microbes to power LED lights, cell phones, radios and other devices. For the initial pilot project in Tanzania, Lebônê used Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology to provide direct current power for standard high efficiency LEDs and equipment like cell phone chargers. MFCs offer a exciting new option for sustainable, cheap, environmentally friendly, and locally targeted power solutions.

By extracting energy and light from dirt, Lebônê has created a scalable clean energy tool that could be used worldwide. Currently, it is working toward providing a tool that improves results for rural health workers, students, small businesses, farmers and families in developing countries. This is just one more promising technological innovation to help resolve energy and environmental issues combined. Good luck and godspeed.

Read more about Lebônê Solutions, Inc
Learn about Microbial Fuel Cell Technology: Microbial Fuel Cells

Reference:PopTech on a Tweet from Echoing Green

The Apple Harvest Is Healthy and Fun

2009-09-10T08:21:00.008-04:00

It's that time of year for the fall apple harvest season a time of good healthy fun. So here is a little story about the apple. I had discovered eight different varieties scattered and hidden while hiking some property a few years back and I often wondered just how many different apples there were compared to what we saw in the store.

The common apple, Malus Doestica originally comes from the region of the world we know as Kazakhstan, a country located in Central Asia. The apple is a descendant from a wild fruit that was one of the first fruits to ever be domesticated by man for consumption. Estimates today put the number of different named varieties at nearly fifteen thousand. A staggering number when you consider that the number of varieties you typically find in local supermarkets can be counted on one hand; Red Delicious, Fuji, Royal Gala, Braeburn, and Granny Smith. Ok, so maybe you can find a few more like the Rome or McIntosh but this is just a small sample of the vast choices you could have. The reasons for this are quite simple really. Economics. Those varieties ship well, last longer, have been bred for uniformity and worst of all are picked very young before fully achieving maturity then are ripened with a gas ripening agent before shipping.

This is fall harvest season and many states will celebrate with Apple Festivals and more. Do yourself a favor and search out a local farmers market, road side stand or even a dedicated heirloom grower in your region and discover something new. An heirloom variety apple picked fresh, grown without chemicals and not gassed with a ripening agent. This could be a fun inexpensive and healthy thing to do on those shorter fall weekend days when you notice the day slipping by a little faster but still want something fun to do. Not to mention buying locally keeps your money in the local economy helping to support your community.

If your really gung ho about apples then consider planting a tree for yourself or community. While your at it really consider an heirloom variety to help preserve the heritage and diversity of these wonderfully healthy plants. The Big Horse Creek Farm provides hundreds of varieties of sapling that you can have delivered to your door ready to plant. What a cool thing to do and healthy too because apples are loaded with vitamins, minerals & antioxidants called Polyphenols that are beneficial in preventing heart disease, breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Need help finding a market: Find A Local Farm or Farm Market. All you have to do is click on the farm market button, enter the product you want and city your in then press search. Whalla! Your in business. If that doesn't help, just start doing a Google search for your area and I am sure you will discover something useful.

Eat healthier. Consider joining a CSA - Community Supported Agriculture Project CSA

Reference: Kent Priestly
A Growing Legacy - Kent Priestly
Apple Nutrition Facts
Science Daily
Image: Fotosearch

Change The World Wednesday

2009-09-09T08:00:00.003-04:00

It is time for our weekly Change The World Wednesday's Challenge. Change The World Wednesday's was started by my friend Small Footprints. It is a weekly challenge focusing on how we can collectively work on a single issue each week to increase awareness and engage positive action to reduce our impact on the world, i.e.- be a little more GREEN. Last week's challenge was to eliminate polystyrene (styrofoam) from your consumption habits. Check it out here: Eliminate The Use Of Styrofoam For One Week

Before we issue this week's challenge I would like to say thank you to this weeks Honor Society bloggers who choose to help spread the word of our challenge. You can read what each of them did along with other suggestions they may have to live more sustainably by clicking on their name below.
Connie Mishali
Kate
Yanic
Argentum Vulgaris
Sober White Women
EcoGrrl
Mike
Zephyr Girl
I am Agel
RecycleBill
Elizabeth Barrette
Rewinn
Harri Pao
Millenniumhealth
TC

To see what this week's challenge is, click on the Change The World image above in this post.

Nadi Shodhana. Breathing Technique To Relax and Calm Yourself

2009-09-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

There is a simple breathing exercise that you can use that will not only help to relax and calm your body but will improve your health and mental fitness as well. It is called Nadi Shodhana which in English simply means "clearing the channels". This exercise helps particularly well when you are having a lot of anxious thoughts or when your trying to quiet your mind of to much mental chatter.

Stress, tension and anxiety can cause deterioration in your health and make you more susceptible to illness or disease. Most people experience times of undo stress or anxiety whether it be about work, family or personal matters. Given the state of economic conditions over the past year and more people facing increasing challenges, having a simple effective tool to help is better than downing a bunch of pills or having to many cocktails.

Here is the trick. Use your right hand to alternately close your right then left nostril. Hold your right hand so that the fingers a separated. Take a slow moderately deep breath in through your nose, and then close off your right nostril with your right thumb. Exhale slowly through you left nostril, then inhale slowly through your left nostril, then close off your left nostril with your third and forth fingers of your right hand. Exhale through your right nostril then inhale through your right nostril, and then again close your right nasal passage with your thumb, exhaling through your left. Continue this pattern for about five to ten minutes, alternating the nostril after each inhalation. This process will cause you to begin feeling more calm and relaxed even after just a minute or two.

This breathing technique in Ayurveda practice is called Pranayama which means the "expansion of life" often loosely translated to "prana" or "breath control". Pranayama is effective to relax you without tranquilizers or alcohol as well as to energize you without caffeine. It is a natural technique to balance your internal energy while facilitating the mind/body connection. Use Nadi Shodhana as well as other breathing techniques throughout your day to balance your mind and body.

Here are some additional breathing techniques for energizing and relaxing your body:
Breathing Exercises

Reference: Grow Younger Live Longer: 10 Steps To Reverse Aging

Cholesterol, Heart Health and Two Simple Effective Tips

2009-09-07T08:00:00.001-04:00

This video provides a good review of cholesterol and heart health with a few exercise tips for ways to improve your cardiovascular conditioning simply and effectively at home with no fancy equipment.

The True Cost of The Diabetes Epidemic

2009-09-06T07:30:00.005-04:00

According to the American Diabetes Association:

Over 20 million children and adults in the U.S have diabetes and another 54 million have pre-diabetes.(1) The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2007 was estimated to be $174 billion. Medical expenditures totaled $116 billion and were comprised of $27 billion for diabetes care, $58 billion for chronic diabetes-related complications, and $31 billion for excess general medical costs. Indirect costs resulting from increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, disease-related unemployment disability, and loss of productive capacity due to early mortality totaled $58 billion. This is an increase of $42 billion since 2002. This 32% increase means the dollar amount has risen over $8 billion more each year.

These figures do not represent the additional impact of obesity, which is another growing epidemic and contributor to the diabetes problem, on our economic condition. If you ask me, the primary motives of any health care reform and societal change should and must come in the form of serious and effective PREVENTION if we are going to dig out from this accelerating downward spiraling train wreck of health. Here is one thing that is interesting to me though:

The corporate sponsors of the American Dietetic Association
Coca Cola
Pepsi
Mars Candy
Kelloggs
General Mills (2)

The same primary producers of the high calorie, high fat, high sugar, low nutrient, vitamin deficient and otherwise poor quality food products on the store shelves and in fast food chains. So is the American Dietetic Association serving our best interests or the interests of the pocketbooks which help give them their authority? I will leave it up to you to decide. Will these manufacturers and producers start making better quality food products for reasonable prices? I will leave that up to you to decide. Will they eliminate the culprits of destructive health such as high fructose corn syrup? Will we begin to see an end to the health problems we now face resulting in significant financial strain on individuals and government finances? I will leave that up to you to decide.

Here is interesting information about blueberries, diabetes prevention and diabetes management: Blueberry Drink Protects Against Obesity and Diabetes

Reference:
American Dietetic Association
American Diabetes Association Diabetes Statistics
1. All about diabetes
2. Corporate Sponsor of The American Dietetic Association

Eco-living Tips From Ideal Bite

2009-09-05T07:30:00.000-04:00

Would you like to learn more about Eco-friendly living tips and ideas? How about getting them delivered to you every day in your inbox. Sign up for Ideal Bite and get ideas on how to life a more environmentally friendly life without giving up all of your comforts. This is my way of getting some of you who are super consumers & polluters to slowly turn the corner to a better way of life for yourself, children and the planet.

The People's Grocery. Connecting Healthy Organic Food, People and The Land

2009-09-04T07:30:00.002-04:00

The People's Grocery is a project founded by Brahm Ahmadi as a venture to create a connectedness of people to the land and healthy food. The People's Grocery provides one of the only means of obtaining healthy fresh and organic produce in West Oakland, CA where the main sources of obtaining groceries are mini-markets or liquor stores loaded with junk quality low grade food. However, his model and mission serve as a greater testament to the predicament of our time. A time in which far to many people have limited access to fresh, healthy, organic food while having prodigious access to alcohol, fast food, poor quality and nutrient lacking food. In addition, there is an increasing disconnect to the earth and a harmonious relationship to the food which is meant to nourish our bodies, stimulating life instead of depleting it. The People's Grocery is just one example of how small efforts can change communities as well as society with the potential to improve personal health, revitalize community stability, increase quality resource development, produce job opportunities, and improve carbon footprint by reducing impacts on the environment.

If your interested in getting reconnected to your community, the food you eat, better health for yourself and family, saving money and impacting the environment more favorably, then start here at Local Harvest. Also, learn more about the significance of the question of
Where Does Your Food Come From?

Find a Local Farm Market in your area with this easy tool:
Find a Farmers Market

More interesting videos: Global Oneness Project

Five Reasons To Get More Sleep

2009-09-03T07:30:00.001-04:00

When it comes to your health, getting enough sleep is essential to your well being. The National Institute of Health estimates that nearly sixty million Americans have frequent insomnia and an estimated forty million have a chronic sleep disorder. Here are five reasons you should get more sleep.

1.)Cardiovascular Health: Sleep disorders have been linked to heart and circulatory conditions such as hypertension and irregular heart beats.

2.)Weight Gain / Metabolism: Sleep deprivation causes changes in the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates. It also affects hormone levels related to appetite.

3.)Immunity / Disease Prevention: Lack of sleep causes changes in the immune system decreasing the strength and activity of immune cells. Some research shows adequate sleep helps prevent cancer.

4.)Learning / Memory: Adequate sleep improves memory retention by improving the brain's ability to store new information into memory.

5.)Mood / Temperament: Lack of adequate sleep can cause irritability, moodiness, inability to concentrate, impatience and result in being too tired out to do things you would like to do.

So how much sleep is enough sleep. That answer can vary for everyone depending upon the quality of sleep but a general rule of thumb would be seven to eight hours. Some people function effectively on six hours. Perhaps because they go through the four phases of sleep effectively and thus have a higher quality of sleep in less time.

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Reference:
Harvard Health Publications
Improving Sleep: A Guide To A Good Nights Rest
WebMD Understanding Sleep Disorders

Change The World Wednesday's Weekly Challenge

2009-09-02T07:30:00.003-04:00

Another week and another opportunity to participate in making the world a better place by taking a small step at living more sustainably. Here is the Change The World Wednesday's challenge for this week. It's good for your health and better green living practice for your community. This is the plan. For one week, eliminate the use of polystyrene foam (Styrofoam). Do not purchase any products that come in Styrofoam containers, don't purchase any Styrofoam products such as cups, bowls, or plates. Don't use any containers made from Styrofoam. If you go to a restaurant, don't order anything packaged in Styrofoam and if you get it to go, ask for a different type of container. Don't pack anything with those peanuts or buy anything packaged with them. That's the deal. Simple but effective. You will be doing something good for your health while making a difference for the planet. So get on board this weeks challenge and dump the polystyrene foam for a week. Need a few extra reasons.

*Polystyrene manufacturing is one of the top five largest creators of hazardous waste
*The main ingredient, styrene, is considered a carcinogen and is linked to central nervous system damage and reproductive harm as well as a host of other deleterious effects.
*They leach toxic chemicals into the food contained in them or heated in them.
*They contribute to excessive pollution and waste.

For information on Styrofoam please visit Earth Resource Foundation
For information about Change The World Wednesday's Challenge or how to participate, please read Change The World Challenge

Ten Tips For A Healthy Diet

2009-08-31T07:33:00.006-04:00

1.) Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. Try to get as much color as possible and be sure to consume those with green, orange and yellow color. Include leafy green vegetables as well. Be sure to consume many of these fresh, not cooked or canned. That way you will be getting more of the essential nutrients and enzymes that promote good health.

2.) Eat more fiber. You need 20-30 grams a day. Consuming more vegetables, fruit, beans, and whole grains will provide fiber that will help regulate blood sugar levels, improve bowel function, reduce cancer risk and more.

3.) Eat less animal meat to cut down on saturated fat. Choose lean cuts of meat, cut off excess fat, take the skin off chicken before eating. Choose low fat dairy products from animals not treated with hormones or antibiotics.

4.) Eat less sugar & sugary foods. The new American Heart Association guidelines are no more than 100 calories or 6 teaspoons for women and 150 calories or 9 teaspoons for men. Sugar is the number one food additive so you must read all your labels. Eliminate sugary beverages, white bread, sweetened baked goods, sugary snacks etc.

5.) Eat more olive oil is contains mono-saturated fats which are good for your heart. Substitute it for butter or margarine.

6.) Eat more nuts. They contain healthy fats like omega 3 fatty acids that are good for your heart and cardiovascular system. They are also a good source of protein to substitute for meat.

7.) Keep portion sizes moderate. Use smaller plates at home so your full plate will actually contain less food. Don't order large sizes of anything and consider splitting a dinner when dining out.

8.) Consume more Calcium. Choose low fat, rBGH & rBST free dairy products. Yogurt also contains healthy bacteria for your gut. If you consume less dairy or none at all then eat dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, almonds, pumpkin seeds, molasses and take a supplement containing calcium citrate.

9.) Eliminate high fructose corn syrup. This is one of the leading sources of simple sugars in the diet. Since it's introduction into the food supply obesity and diabetes have become explosive epidemics and threaten the health of millions of people.

10.)Drink more water. Start your day with at least one glass of filtered water (with a little lemon) first thing in the morning when you get up. You will be surprised at how much better you will feel. Consume at least 6-8 glasses of filtered water per day and don't count coffee or tea as part of this total.

Be well and Live Smart

Reference: UC Berkley Wellness Letter

The Best Purported Natural Cancer Cures and Treatments

2009-08-30T11:03:00.012-04:00

Cancer - The Leading Cause of Death Worldwide

Cancer is projected to become the leading cause of death worldwide in 2010. The rate of cancer doubled from 1975 to 2000 and is projected to double again by 2020. If you or someone you know has been afflicted with this disease then you should know that there are purported natural cancer cures and treatments used by thousands of people for over fifty years that claim to be extremely successful in healing cancerous conditions. I am not saying they will or do work but rather am providing the information here as a source for others to determine if these can be of benefit in helping them prevent or manage cancerous conditions.

I first heard about Essiac and Essiac Tea when I was developing a fitness program for a wellness clinic in Ohio in 1988. I stumbled upon a book that contained information about Essiac and Rene Caisse. It was an older book but something in particular caught my attention. The book also included several hundred hand written and typed testimonials of thanks to Dr. Caisse attributing the success of using Essiac to combat multiple medical conditions. Mostly they were regarding cancerous conditions that responded remarkably well to the use of the Essiac Tea formulation of specific herbs brewed and used as a tea. To read more about Dr. Rene Caisse and Essiac Tea, read more here:The Truth About Essiac and Essiac Tea As a Cancer Cure

The other interesting information I found while doing research for my book was about a seven time Nobel Prize nominee and German Biochemist, Dr. Johanna Budwig, an expert on fats and oils. Dr. Budwig is best known for her extensive research on the properties and benefits of flaxseed oil combined with sulphurated proteins to be used in ones diet. She has published a few books you may find interesting about the subject of flax oil & proteins. They are "Cancer--A Fat Problem," "The Death of the Tumor," and "True Health Against Arteriosclerosis, Heart Infarction & Cancer". To learn more about the diet protocol and Dr. Budwig please read these: The Budwig Diet For Treating Cancer With Alternative Approaches and The Budwig Protocol

It is interesting to point out that the number one cancer treatment drug today, TAXOL, is produced from a plant called the Pacific Yew tree.

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Reference:
Science Daily
American Society of Pharmacognocy

Image:FotoSearch

Live Smart for Health, Wellness & Healing

2009-08-30T08:50:00.009-04:00

Good Sunday Morning to you. Some people have been mentioning to me that they didn't know I wrote a health & wellness book even though I have a small widget on the right side of the blog. If your interested in learning more about it, you can check it out here: Live Smart or click on the picture above.

Learn the simple strategies to achieve maximum vitality and well being at any age. Learn strategies to help prevent cancer, achieve peak performance as well as to look and feel younger. This book is also an eye opening exposure about the food and water you consume, the beverage, drug and chemical industries, corporate deceit, regulatory malfeasance,organic food, cancer, nutrients and natural healing.

Look at nutrition with a different perspective to enhance your understanding and strategies to go with it. Get straight to the hard hitting facts and learn how to deal with them. Heal yourself, prevent disease and have more vitality than ever before while achieving your maximum potential no matter how healthy or unhealthy you are. I have changed lives with these strategies for over 20 years. Now it's your turn. Live Smart

Here is an interesting article I happened upon yesterday. If your looking for tips to help with weight loss, you may find this a good read.
Seven Steps To Losing Weight For Good

Enso Bottles.Environmentally Friendly Biodegradable Plastic Bottle Solution

2009-08-29T07:55:00.009-04:00

I was reading an article about Teresa Marie Clark, co-founder of Enso Bottles, and discovered that Enso produces environmentally friendly biodegradable PET bottles for consumer and commercial use as the solution to traditional plastic bottles contributing to the massive landfill waste. The bottles are different than others because they're not Oxo-degradable or PLA (corn based) plastic. Enso bottles unique preform and blown bottles break down through microbial action into inert humus and biogas leaving behind no harmful materials. Their bottles are also recyclable. Healthy for you and the environment, how awesome is that?

Enso Bottles was started in 2008 and rolled out this year with the goal to produce a more sustainable, environmentally friendly solution to the PET bottling industry. Their long-term goals are to develop renewable and sustainable sources of bioplastics which are derived from non-food feedstocks. Their future products will assist in reducing our dependence on unsustainable resources such as fossil fuels and current biodegradable products will greatly assist in reducing plastic bottle pollution in both landfill and ocean environments. The researchers developed their bottles by adjusting the polymer chain of traditional PET bottles by adding organic compounds and microbial nutrients. This makes it more attractive to microbes enabling it to be broken down faster.

The first bottled water company to begin using the Enso bottles was a California producer called AquaMantra that expected their first shipments to be delivered in May of 2009. Other manufacturers and producers have followed suit.

To read more about Enso Bottles Enso Bottles Home Page
To see the list of product Enso Bottle Products

What are your thoughts on this product and the company's goals? Let me know.

Sources:
Ode-Intelligent Optimists
WaterWebster.org
TCE Today

Ten Ways To Conserve Energy At Home

2009-08-26T08:01:00.009-04:00

Change The World Wednesday's

When you conserve energy in the home you not only reduce the total consumption of fuels such as oil and coal you also help protect the environment by reducing the amount of total CO2 emissions produced by your home.

1.)Turn out all lights when they are not in use or your out of the room.
2.)Change the light bulbs inside and outside your home to the CFL or LED variety.
3.)Put Your Computer(s)in sleep or hibernate mode when not in use instead of using a screen saver which uses more energy than when the computer is in use.
4.)Take shorter showers and switch to a low flow shower head. Keep them under 5 min.
5.)Put dimmer switches on light fixtures and run the lights below full wattage.
6.)Turn up the thermostat(3-4 degrees)in the summer and down in the winter. The a/c and heater will run less.
7.)Open windows in morning and evening and run the a/c less
8.)Adjust the thermostat up or down on your refrigerator to 37 degrees and the freezer to 3 degrees or as close to that as possible. The fridge accounts for 20% of the energy consumption of your home.
9.)Go outside more often and get the children outside instead of watching tv, playing video games or using the computer.
10.)Turn down the thermostat on your water heater. Set it at 120 degrees. If every home in the US did this one step, we would eliminate over 40 million pounds of CO2 emissions annually.

These ten simple ways to conserve energy at home will not only save you hundreds of dollars per year it will help reduce CO2 emissions thus saving the environment and having a significant impact on global warming. If every household in the US turned down their water heater and changed their light bulbs to more energy efficient choices, this would reduce CO2 emissions by billions of pounds annually while also reducing oil consumption by millions of barrels per year.

If you want more tips and strategies to conserve energy, visit Twenty Things You Can Do To Conserve Energy or the Home Energy Saver Audit Tool

American Heart Association Guidelines For Sugar Intake

2009-08-25T06:44:00.009-04:00

The American Heart Association has stepped up to the plate and issued new guidelines for sugar intake to help turn the tide of the obesity epidemic. This time they have have targeted one of the main culprits linked to obesity - Sugar. The AHA's new guidelines suggest that women should have no more than six teaspoons or 100 calories of added sugar and men should have no more than nine teaspoons or 150 calories of sugar.

High sugar intake is implicated as a primary factor in the obesity epidemic as well as being a significant factor in the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and high triglyceride levels. The new guidelines were provided in the recent issue of Circulation: Journal of American Heart Association. (Read the guidelines. AHA-dietary guidelines for sugar intake)

What is the primary source of added sugars in the diet? Soda, soft drinks, sugary beverages and high fructose corn syrup. One twelve ounce serving ( a can ) of soda contains about eight teaspoons of sugar. If you have one of those sixteen ounce bottles then your over the nine teaspoon limit and this doesn't factor in sugars in all other food products that are consumed. High fructose corn syrup is the sole caloric sweetener used by the beverage industry and it is known to trigger chemical responses in your body that can lead to increased consumption of foods & beverages and trigger fat deposition.(see-This Is What Is Really Making You Fat-High Fructose Corn Syrup So you can bet that Coke and Pepsi are not to happy about this news. Rest assured they will be working on a campaign to improve sales and their image. You must be conscious of what you eat because there is extra sugar, especially high fructose corn syrup, in many foods that we consume. So do yourself a favor and start reading labels. Pay attention to how much your putting into your body.

Sources:
American Heart AssociationAmerican Heart Association
Reuters

Permeable Pavement. The Real Green Solution To Water Pollution

2009-08-24T09:00:00.002-04:00

Permeable pavement is a pavement system which permits water to pass through the surface and into the ground thus allowing the natural filtration process that occurs as water passes through soil and into surface water and local aquifers. Allowing water to pass directly through the surface will facilitate the natural filtering process of water as it passes through the soil and gravel much like filtering drinking water. The added benefit of these systems is that they can save developers and municipalities money by reducing the costly expense related to the building of gutter storm drainage systems and curbs. The costs are competitive with current building materials especially when figuring in the reduction of expenditure on drainage systems.

Typical roadways, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and roofs are made with impermeable surfaces creating massive runoff of water that also contains pollutants which drain into local creeks, streams and rivers where it adds to the contamination of these systems. The permeable systems can significantly reduce the runoff containing fertilizer, pesticides, oils, detergents and particulate matter from air pollution.

Currently, there are multiple types of permeable pavement systems available which include bituminous pavement or porous asphalt, porous concrete, plastic grid systems and block pavers. Each having a particular functional use depending upon location with costs in the range of $.50 to $4.00 per square foot.

Permeable pavement also tends to be less reflective, causing less glare and allowing motorists to see pavement markings better. These processes are relatively new but have been shown to have nearly the same lifespan as solid impervious materials. This would thus keep maintenance and repair costs comparable to existing materials. Perhaps it is time to utilize more of these materials in the process of creating more green jobs in the new green economy.

Source:
Green Works.tv stormwater and porous pavement
Permeable Pavement

The Three Biggest Mistakes People Make When Trying To Lose Weight

2009-08-24T08:00:00.004-04:00

The three biggest mistakes people make when trying to lose weight.

1.) Don't eat properly Superfoods To Lose Weight For Optimal Health

2.) Don't hydrate properly Stay Hydrated

3.) Don't workout properly Best Workout Routines To Burn Fat

The Healthiest Eating Plan and Diet To Increase Life Expectancy

2009-08-23T08:00:00.006-04:00

As research continues to find the most healthy and beneficial way to eat, most leading researchers and health advocates agree that the simple observation of two main cultures have given us the best clues. They are the societies bordering the Mediterranean Sea and those of the Okinawa’s of Japan. The two regions(esp. Sardinia and Okinawa) are believed to have the highest number of centenarians (persons over the age 100yrs) and also the highest average life expectancy with most enjoying long, active, fully productive lives into their 90’s and 100’s. Their diets have been shown to decrease the aging process, reduce the incidence of many chronic degenerative diseases like cancer and heart disease and dementia. People who follow these diets tend to live longer, healthier lives. The basic diet is one that includes generous amounts of fresh fruits, vegetables, and legumes with limited consumption of dairy, red meat, sugars and healthy fats. The main sources of protein are fresh fish, legumes, and nuts. The healthy fats are oils like Olive oil which is high in mono-saturated fats. Additionally, there tends to be more of “ceremony” around eating where they savor and enjoy the meal and people around the table while tending to not over-consume and even stop eating before you’re entirely full. The abundance of flavors in many of their foods comes from more liberal applications of herbs to food preparation. Herbs also have many beneficial compounds within them to maintain physical integrity. Some herbs like cinnamon have been shown to contain properties to help regulate, even lower blood sugar. Ginger and turmeric have anti inflammatorycompounds thought to be beneficial to age related inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and Alzheimer’s. So try incorporating a little more of the Mediterranean style of eating for a longer, healthier, more productive life.

Reference:
Mayo Clinic
BBC News

Image: Fotosearch

Live Attenuated Flu Virus Vaccine For H1N1

2009-08-22T10:00:00.008-04:00

A live attenuated flu vaccine is part of the vaccination procedures for the preemptive preparations to thwart the expected resurgence of the novel H1N1 Swine flu. Most people don't know that an attenuated flu vaccine is an actual live flu virus. The difference with the virus is that it has been "weakened" through a process called "passing". Passing is the process of repeatedly growing the virus over and over again in a cell culture in a lab which typically results in the virus being weakened so that it has less disease causing capacity. So part of the treatment and preliminary vaccination for the novel H1N1 Swine flu is to administer the actual Swine flu virus into individuals. Interestingly, the actual molecular basis for this attenuation or weakening is unknown and the WHO - World Health Organization states that any new attenuated virus used as a vaccine is likely to contain one or more specific mutations injected into the genome.

Attenuated viruses have been used in the past for various forms of vaccination and are also part of the regular flu vaccinations. Most often they are used as a backup when the availability of inactivated vaccines is scarce. In most instances in the past, the attenuated viruses such as Laiv(FluMist®) have helped prevent illness in individuals. Symptoms that occur after treatment with attenuated viruses can mimic illness such as runny nose, congestion, tiredness, fatigue, headache, cough. These mild effects are generally short lived compared to flu infection. However,since these treatments are the actual live flu virus there are also instances in which the recipients themselves get sick and also transmit the virus to others. The transmission rate is estimated to be 1-2.4%. The initial five target groups for preemptive vaccination against the novel H1N1 Swine flu comprises 159 million people alone in the United States. A 2% infection rate on half of this group is over 1.5 million people. Now figure in how many people who come into contact with those inadvertently infected people. So in essence the prevention procedures for the novel H1N1 Swine Flu virus could actually contribute to the development and spread of the flu virus nationally and internationally. It is a bit of a conundrum but that is the circumstance of the situation we are now facing. ( I need to point out that the flu vaccines being used will not all be attenuated virus vaccines and that many will be inactivated ( dead ) viruses)

The H1N1 Swine flu virus is a novel virus and may not respond or act typical to other flu viruses should it mutate further. It has already proved to be evolving. Reported earlier this week, it has been found that the Swine flu has now passed from humans to poultry. This should be taken seriously since the primary concern with the Swine flu is that if it should mix further with the Avian flu then the potential new strain of virus would make the current Swine flu, which is highly contagious but not deadly, a highly contagious and deadly strain that would not only affect billions of humans but meat and poultry worldwide. Stay tuned as I will continue to follow this virus and try to bring you a bit of perspective. Thanks for reading.

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Sources:
World Health Organization WHO #2
Dr. Spock
Center For Disease Control
Swine Flu Confirmed In Turkeys
Universal Flu Vaccine Is Close To Development

Take Part In The Social Action Network and Change The World

2009-08-21T08:00:00.002-04:00

We have had a tremendous response to the Change The World Wednesday's campaign which is growing larger every day and it got me thinking about taking a deeper look into some of the health, wellness and sustainability issues that affect us on a personal and global level. In my pursuit I came across a relatively new online organization called Take Part

Take Part is a new cause-related site designed to help you explore today’s issues, share ideas and get involved. Their belief is that with the right information and tools for action, individuals can and will make a difference. Their site is both a hub and a gateway for their three point program which is to 1.)Explore Issues 2.) Share Ideas 3.)Work Together to make a difference.

Want to find information on an issue? They’ve sorted through the clutter so you can easily find what you’re looking for. They’ve gathered news, photo galleries, and videos that relate to today’s issues, and added actions you can take to make a difference. From signing a petition to educating your community, Take Part can help you find tangible ways to take action.

Learn more and explore the Take Part Social Action Network Take Part is a part of Participant Media

Swine Flu Pandemic Will Threaten Coal and Power Supplies

2009-08-20T08:00:00.005-04:00

A severe Swine Flu outbreak that turns deadly will threaten the Coal supplies and thus the electrical power for millions of American homes. So says a report from the University of Minnesota's CIDRAP - The Center for Infectious Disease and Policy.

Coal supplies nearly 50% of all the power generated in the U.S. However, some areas are likely to be affected more than others. Take for instance the Mid-West which gets about 74% of it's power from coal. "Despite regional differences in coal usage, a pandemic is likely to break links in the coal supply chain, thus disrupting electrical generation. This has the potential to severely endanger the bulk electrical power system in most of the United States," says the report from the university's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), publisher of CIDRAP News.

The report says that current federal preparedness plans do not address the possibility of power supply problems resulting from reduced coal shipments during a pandemic. A key planning gap, it says, is that federal plans put coal industry workers among those last in line for pandemic vaccines and antiviral drugs.

This should be of some concern considering the fact that a couple of train derailments in 2005 threatened to knock out power in several areas with some coal power plants having only a few days of stockpile left after a few weeks with the rails out of service. Read the full story here: Center For Infectious Disease Research and Policy

Image: Lisa F. Young - Fotolia.com

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Recycling Made Easy with Earth911.com

2009-08-19T08:00:00.007-04:00

How can you get involved in making the world a better place? A few simple ways would be to first begin recycling products that you purchase & have laying around. Many of you already participate since some communities have recycling as part of the garbage service that picks up certain paper, glass, plastic products. If you don't recycle then start today and for at least a week recycle all product packaging, magazines, papers, envelopes etc. Clean out your garage and house. Take these special recycling products not processed through your garbage service to a recycling facility in your area. To make this process easier you can check out Earth 911.com to find a recycling center near you: Search For Recycling Centers Interestingly, Earth911.com provides a handy Apple Iphone app to help you learn about local recycling in your area. They also have a RecycleMe(tm) labeling program for businesses to help them help consumers recycle their products insuring there product life cycle loop gets closed by improving the end of life cycle for their products.

** The US E.P.A estimates that 75% of human waste is recyclable **

The second simple way to Change The World and make a sustainable impact this week is to start Composting. Starting a compost pile or bin is easier than you might think and there are lots of easy ways to get started. Here is a great way to start: 8 Ways To Green Your Trash. Start composting at home today in the kitchen or in the backyard. If you already recycle and compost, leave me a comment with your suggestions & tips. Thanks.

** Every American Throw Away 1.3lbs of food scraps daily **
** 24% of Landfill Waste is Food scraps and Lawn trimmings **

If your a blogger, want to increase your blog exposure & audience while making a sustainable impact and would like to participate in this weeks Change The World Wednesday's Challenge, here is how you can join in. First begin to follow the weekly challenge for 7 days{Get Weekly Challenge}, write a post about it. Leave a comment on my blog under this weeks Change The World Wednesday's Challenge post with the link to your blog post. Your post will be featured in the Change The World Wednesday's coveted "Honor Society" with a live link to your blog post. Change The World Wednesday's weekly sustainable living challenge was started by my friend Small Footprints. This week's challenge idea came from my friend Amybyrd21 at The Wayland Springs Cook

For more information about Reduce/Reuse/Recycle and more visit:
United States EPA

Source: Earth 911.com

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Here is our Change The World Wednesday's Weekly Honor Society:

WayLandCook
Gaia Tribe
Nature With Me
See Why Kinsman
Eemilla
Tender Graces
Kathryn Magendie
HoldFastSeeker
Kelly's Ideas
Ann - from Last week's challenge
Rewinn
SoTorrificTwins
Live Smart

Thanks to everyone who participated and to those who offered us cleaning recipes. A special thanks to TonyBeach for coming on board and supporting the cause widely through his network.

Sunscreen Leads To Vitamin D Deficiency In Children and Puts Them At Risk Of Disease.

2009-08-18T08:00:00.004-04:00

Researchers have found that Vitamin D deficiency in children is more widespread than expected and puts them at increased risk for disease. "We expected the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency would be high, but the magnitude of the problem nationwide was shocking," says lead author Juhi Kumar, M.D., M.P.H., a fellow in pediatrics at Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center, The University Hospital and Academic Medical Center for Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Based on their results, that magnitude equates to 7.6 million children having a deficiency in necessary Vitamin D. This increases their risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, bone diseases and even cancer.(1)

The main source of Vitamin D for children is sunshine and they don't get enough of it. In addition, the FDA guidelines for sunscreen were established in 1978 and haven't been updated as our knowledge of UV rays, Vitamin D, and diseases have. It is time to update the permanent sunscreen safety guidelines. A good rule of thumb, 10 minutes of sun on exposed sun, then put the sunscreen on. That way they get the benefits while minimizing the risks. Read More about this story in detail - Environmental Working Group

Source: Environmental Working Group
Reference: Vitamin D Council(1)
Image: Hallgerd - Fotolia.com

Families and Small Producers Destroyed By New Legislation & Big Business

2009-08-17T12:03:00.002-04:00

Families and small farm producers all over the United States are being forced out of business by the new, poorly implemented food safety regulations. Somewhere down the line things have gotten really screwed up. In an effort to apparently improve the food supply, new food standard codes went into effect here in the U.S. back in October of 2008. The fallout of the new standards is starting to show it's effects. Small family farms & producers are getting the shaft and large corporations are getting the money from the federal government in the form of grants. The problem is that these small family's and producers are the ones that need the grants. In addition, the authorities have not allowed small producers enough time to adhere to the new regulations. The paperwork is to oppressive for small producers to keep up and meet the standards. The net result is more and more small farms, producers and families are having to close up shop, go bankrupt and lose their farms. Some lucky ones may be able to shift to other products to survive but the casualties will continue to mount. It is interesting that the larger corporations are the ones getting the grants to comply with the new standards but the small independent operations cannot get access to the funds. What will continue to happen to farm markets, local food coop's and access to small farm produced food which is often the truly organic & naturally produced food? Are we looking at the end of independent freedom to choose local fresh food & farm markets? Stay tuned. Read one family's story - Farm Online-Small Farms Being Destroyed Read about the modern day form of thug extortion in a similar vein as this story - Organic Consumers Association

Source: Farm Weekly

The Number # 1 Food Trend For Health

2009-08-16T12:30:00.008-04:00

The #1 food trend for health is Probiotics. What are Probiotics? The US Probiotic Organization states that they are "live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amount confer a health benefit on the host." When it comes to staying healthy and preventing disease you should consider adding probiotics to your daily regimen. Scientists are learning more each day about the role of microbes in keeping people healthy and the multitude of health benefits associated with consuming the right type and levels of probiotic microbes.

Probiotics was the number #1 food trend in 2008 and continues today to be at the forefront of food trends for health. It is not hard to understand why. As our society continues to grow fatter, develop more chronic degenerative disease, and suffer from pain, fatigue or worse, there are those seeking to change that tune and get as healthy as possible. Others that know the benefits of good health & seek to embrace the fact that if your body is effectively digesting, processing, utilizing and eliminating food then your health and immune systems will be improved. Research at Harvard University & discussed by the U.S. Probiotic Organization says that probiotics can be helpful for multiple conditions of poor health from preventing childhood allergies, decreased cancer risk, preventing dental carries, alleviating irritable bowel syndrome, preventing & eliminating yeast infections & candida, aid in treatment for Crohn's disease and more. Probiotics boost the immune system. They may also prevent multiple forms of digestive tract cancers like Colon Cancer. I personally have worked with and encountered many people that attest to the benefits of probiotics and superfoods. Thousands of people are using products like Superfood supplements containing probiotic organisms, probiotic capsules or tablets and the new generation of dairy free probiotic drinks.

The most well known way to get probiotics is yogurt but most yogurts are made with milk from cows treated with growth hormone or antibiotics that can be detrimental to your wellbeing & counteract the benefits of the probiotics. They also contribute to the development of allergies to dairy. Probiotics are beneficial however there are some conditions in which you will want to seek a qualified professionals advice regarding their use. That would be if you have a compromised or weakened immune system such as in the case of HIV and are taking certain medications. Certain probiotic organisms may want to be avoided in these individuals.

People using probiotics know that they feel better, have more energy, less fatigue, less pain & have regular bowel function. A company that I recently discovered is Good Belly. Good Belly was founded by Steve Demos ad Todd Beckman (formerly of White Wave - Largest producer of Soy products in the US) Read more about their story of GoodBelly at Good Belly.com What makes GoodBelly's products particularly appealing is that their products are dairy free which is substantial due to the fact that a large percentage of adults and children have some level of lactose or dairy intolerance and you don't have to worry about the hormones & antibiotics found in many dairy products including yogurt. They also us LP299v which is a naturally occurring probiotic organism found in the human digestive system used by millions in Sweden for more than 13 years with no harmful effects. I am not getting paid by GoodBelly or selling the product but just thought you should know about them. Have a great day and click the links for more information.

GoodBelly Store Locator
The Studies on Good Belly
The Story Of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v
Research documentation on Lp299v

Save Money: Buy One - Get One Free. Get Your Coupon: Click the photo below.

No Health, Fitness, Wellness or Advocacy This Morning

2009-08-16T00:15:00.000-04:00

No health, fitness, wellness post or discussion about nutrition or food safety & advocacy. Just a Silent Sunday Morning Today. Sometimes a picture can say it all. You know what they say "A picture is worth a thousand words". Enjoy. Have a great day.

Read my health and nutrition post later today about the #1 food trend in the US and it's implication on your health and wellness.

Photo: Positano, Italy

Short Term Effects Of A High Fat Diet- It Makes You Stupid and Lazy

2009-08-15T08:41:00.008-04:00

It is well known that the long term effects of High Fat Diets contribute to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and heart failure but not much research was done to investigate the short term implications of such eating habits. That is until now. Researchers at Oxford University, in a study funded by the British Heart Foundation, have shown that short term high fat diets contribute to a quick reduction in physical performance as well as decline in cognitive ability in just nine days. Read more Here: High Fat Foods Make You Dumb and Lazy

Source: Sports Geezer

Why Heirloom Tomatoes Are Better For Health and Sustainable Living

2009-08-14T01:15:00.014-04:00

Why are Heirloom Tomatoes better for health and sustainability? An organically grown Heirloom tomato has more flesh, less water & seeds and has more nutrient content. Grown organically, it is richer, denser, more flavorful & nutrient dense than conventional tomatoes grown with synthetic fertilizers that deplete soil, lead to dead zones in crop areas and fish habitats, kills beneficial microorganisms etc.

It is tomato season and I've been picking my crop of Heirloom variety's that include the Cherokee Purple - pink-purple fruits that are generally crack free and disease resistant with a meaty smooth taste, The Livingston Gold Queen - a great looking medium sized yellow beefsteak introduced by the Livingston Seed Company in the late 1800's and absolutely incredible taste. The Purple Passion - A nice black variety that produces a great number of 5-8 oz. dusky brown fruits that have a sweet rich flavor and the Brandywine - A favorite Amish heirloom variety that goes back to the late 1800's.

Heirloom tomatoes are the original strain of tomato plants that through selective harvesting of seeds and plants have evolved into better quality tomatoes grown in gardens worldwide for over the past 100 + years but cultivation goes back for centuries. They are developed as nature intended. Their shape is typically more ribbed & non uniform with some actually being pretty misshapen. So they may not always look as attractive as the varieties we have grown accustomed to but they are truly a superior tomato but more specifically when grown organically without synthetic fertilizer. The synthetic fertilizer has a tendency to create a tomato with more water and seeds whereby reducing the meatiness, flavor and some nutrients.

Most of today’s tomatoes actually have been altered from their original state and no longer are the heirloom variety. There was a hybridization process through forced cross pollination that began after WWII and really gained momentum in the 1970’s to enhance appearance of tomatoes along with increasing the crop yields, transport survival and shelf life. The hybridized tomatoes were designed to grow more rounded with a symmetrical proportion and little to no blemishes.

Hybridization was a revolutionary technique that facilitated alteration through the natural potential union of plants. Food producers were looking to build a better product and improve revenues. One benefit was the belief that the appearance made the product more attractive to consumers and slowly the shift was made where people just got used to buying tomatoes that had very little rich red color left. In addition, because conventional farming uses large amounts of synthetic fertilizers, these tomatoes are often loaded with seeds and water with little internal flesh, is extremely lacking in taste and more often is a nutrient deficient tomato having less of the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients your body needs.

Don’t be discouraged though because fresh fruits and vegetables still provide your best sources of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, phytonutrients and bioactive life enhancing energy. That being said, if you ever tried an heirloom tomato you will understand what I mean about the better taste quality and dense “meatiness” of these tomatoes. If you haven’t, I suggest you buy one heirloom (Ugly) tomato, preferably one that is organic – locally grown – without synthetic fertilizer and one regular tomato (especially one that is not vine ripened). Try them side by side and determine the difference for yourself.

If you want to learn about the rich history of the tomato, visit: Landscape Imagery
For Unique and Heirloom variety seeds from many plants, visit: Seed Savers it is a clearinghouse for the collection and distribution of heirloom seeds including tomato seeds

The Major Health Benefits Of Raw Food Nutrition

2009-08-13T12:36:00.007-04:00

Checklist Of The Major Raw Food Benefits

Most people know that eating fresh vegetables, fruits and leafy greens is a great idea for healthy living and eating healthy. Here is the major reasons why. A simple quick reminder for the day. Especially since it is lunchtime here in the U.S. Maybe you will make some better choices today.

Raw live fruits and vegetables contain the original vitamins, minerals and enzymes of which some or all are destroyed by cooking.

Raw, whole, live foods have electrochemical energy and other nutritional messages that vibrate with frequencies that energize your body.

Raw foods help build and strengthen your immune system.

Raw foods increase your physical energy and vitality.

Eating raw foods helps you look and feel better.

Raw foods can help you lose weight.

Raw foods can help manage or cure chronic disease and allergies.

Raw foods help prevent diseases like cancer.

Read More: Live Smart and Live Smarter

Image: Source
* If you enjoy my posts, leave a comment and don't forget to subscribe. Thanks.

Change The World Wednesday's

2009-08-12T22:09:00.014-04:00

It is Wednesday therefore it must be time for Change The World Wednesday's.
If you don’t know about
Change The World Wednesday's, it is a program engaged by the blogging community to spread knowledge and create collaboration on issues focused on improving the world we all live in by collectively engaging in a weekly activity to be in some way more sustainable or environmentally friendly. This brilliant concept was introduced by my friend Reduce Footprints.

Last week's challenge dealt with food and going vegetarian. The focus was meatless meals. And, as usual, our Honor Society met the challenge. I hope you'll visit some of these sites because there are some fabulous recipes listed. Recipes that, I'm sure, could make the most devout carnivore turn vegetarian. One of the members wrote a hilariously funny post that looked at meatless meals from a completely different point of view. Thanks to everyone who participated:

GigiSxm
Sinclair
SeeWhyKinsman
Connie Mishali
Sober White Women
Marcy
Kelly
Kate
Kimmy
Yanic
MondayCampaigns
Elizabeth Barrette
Management Consultant
EcoGrrl
Eemilla
Rewinn
Tim C

So are you ready for this weeks challenge? Here it is:

Most commercial cleaners, commonly available in stores today, contain harsh chemicals ... many, of which, harm the environment. So this week, try an Eco-friendly cleaner ... something that doesn't hurt the environment or us. For some suggestions, check here:

VegWeb
Cleaning The Environmentally Safe Way
EcoCycle
Kate Reveals Her All Natural Cleaning

If you only use Eco-friendly cleaners, share your favorite cleaner/recipe with us and talk about why it's your favorite on a blog post and let us know and or please leave a comment with the recipe on this post's comment section. Thanks.

Here is my All Purpose Cleaner Recipe:
3 cups water ( or warm/hot water )
30 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
3/4 cup white vinegar
20 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil (optional)
Pour into spray bottle and use like any conventional all purpose cleaner.

Another blogging friend of mine has a great recipe for a bleach/brightener substitute. Get the recipe fromWayland Cook.

What do you think? Is it something you're willing to try? If you're new to our challenges, please review the Change The World Wednesday's Challenge Guidelines to read all about it and get the "rules". And remember, anyone who accepts the challenge gets a place in our highly touted "Honor Society" (just leave a comment ... it's as simple as that). Anyone who writes a post about it, gets that post "Stumbled" (just be sure to let me know about it, okay). If you're on Twitter, join us in tweeting about it (my ID = tcinvestor and Reduce Footprints is = Smallftprints). Include the tag #changetheworldwed ... maybe we can start a trend.

We're changing the world ... one challenge at a time!
If you enjoyed this post, Don't forget to subscribe to my blog. Thanks.

Phytochemical Nutrients. Nature's Health Warriors

2009-08-12T10:25:00.010-04:00

Phytochemicals (Phytonutrients) are nature’s health warriors. The list includes compounds such as lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, selenium, diindolylmethane, allium compounds, anthrocyanins, carotenoids, falconoid, indoles, isoflavones limonene phenols, saponins, sterols, coumarins. Phytonutrients are powerful and beneficial types of naturally occurring bioactive compounds contained in plants. They function to provide plants with protection and these protective mechanisms are transferred to humans when we consume plants. These substances also are responsible for giving fruits and vegetables the wide array of colors, smells, and flavors. Phytonutrients perform a multitude of functions that we are continuing to discover. A profound body of evidence from research has shown that these compounds including polyphenols help to reduce the incidence of cancer, reduce cholesterol, improve cardiovascular health, prevent and eliminate arthritis, prevent osteoporosis, fight tumors, boost immune system, combat viruses etc. They are also beneficial in reducing other inflammatory conditions linked to diseases such as Alzheimer’s. They protect cells from free radical damage, immobilize carcinogens, slow the aging process, maintain or improve eye function and may repair damaged DNA(DNA is the fundamental building block of our cells). A more common one would be Salycin. This is a substance extracted from the Willow tree and used for centuries as a pain reliever, fever reducer, and anti-inflammitory. A synthetic derivative of Salycin is known as ASPIRIN (acetylsalicylic acid). The number one drug for cancer in the world (TAXOL) is a phytochemical from the Pacific Yew Tree. The moral of the story here, eat your raw fruits & vegetables and use fresh and dried herbs not only are they Superfoods, they are nature's health warriors. If your interested in browsing around you can search for additional information at the U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture Phytochemical Database . This is a database of phytochemical nutrients. Do you you eat plenty of raw fruits, vegetables and herbs?

The Venus Project. A New Vision For Humanity

2009-08-10T12:00:00.000-04:00

An interesting topic came up in discussion the other day. Perhaps fostered by the recent global economic collapse leaving many people in challenging situations for their very survival. Can humanity exist and survive without money? What would the world be like without the current monetary based economy? How would a common shared resource economy evolve and thrive? The most in-depth review of a new direction for human progress toward a shared resource based technological global human society is being delivered by The Venus Project. The conceptual nature of their work is in many ways evolving into reality but we still have a long way to go and it doesn't provide all the answers but that is part of the process. Not knowing the ultimate outcome. Even Game Theory can't predict the outcome of this process. Only time will tell.

We All Live Downstream. Is Access To Water A Basic Human Right?

2009-08-09T13:16:00.004-04:00

Is access to water a basic human right or is it a resource commodity to be privatized like oil or gas? How much will you pay for water? Who should have access to clean drinking water? Will some cities become ghost towns due to impending changes in water supply? Where will you live? These are valid questions in a time of challenge.

H2O or water is the most abundant molecule on earth as well as in your body. Our mere survival depends on it's availability. It has shaped how we life & interact and in turn shaped much of the appearance of this planet. We all are connected to water through our dependence on it and how it is used. Do you know that the demand for water is doubling every 20 years? This is outpacing even our robust population growth by a factor of 2 to 1. Yes, demand for water is growing at a pace double the rate of population growth and the world population more than doubled in the last 40 years far outpacing historical growth trends. Demand for freshwater will exceed supply by 50% within the next twenty years by many estimates.

Today there are already nearly 1.5 billion people without access to clean water and nearly 2.5 billion live without proper sanitation or sewage. This is both a humanitarian as well as environmental problem with massive implications on a global scale.

Who uses the most water? Large agribusiness and factory farms are by far the biggest consumers of water and in the process create enormous waste and devastation. Crop irrigation accounts for 65-70% of the worlds water use. Let me give you just one example of the reckless consumption. Corn production, the major commodity crop unnecessarily over used in international agribusiness livestock feed and food processing (high fructose corn syrup in soda, corn oil, ethanol gas, nearly 70% of all processed foods)is probably the worst abuser. In the U.S. alone, roughly 1/2 million gallons are used per acre of corn annually. This equals about 75 gallons to get just one pound of corn. When you factor the livestock farming into the picture is takes about 600 gallons to produce the corn needed, in conventional factory farming, to make just one 1/3lb burger. Currently, worldwide there are corporations and investment groups jockeying for position in the battle for water rights through privatization. The implications of such movements should be of concern to you.

Roughly 97% of the worlds water is salt water. About 2% is frozen in ice caps and glaciers leaving only 1% for all the agricultural, manufacturing, community, residential and personal needs including the needs of animal species that are freshwater dependent. Since 1991 the federal government of the U.S. has cut roughly 66% of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund that helps communities keep their water clean. Consider that 85% of Americans receive their water from public utility departments that are in budget shortfalls. This infrastructure is a multi-trillion dollar investment privatization target. This similar scenario is playing out in several countries worldwide. Drink this bit of info. In 1978 federal funding for new water infrastructure covered 78% of the cost. Today it accounts for less than 3%. This leaves the states and individual rate payers to come up with the rest of the funds to purify the water and treat sewage. There will be rate increases that will constitute a regressive tax on the working class and the poor. This is just another small part of the much larger issue. There has been recent success in the battle against privatization but this is a long and steep hill to climb. The fact that fresh water is becoming more scarce should force us to look at strategies to change current policies, water usage practices & agricultural production techniques.
For more information visit these sites:

Blue Planet Project

Sources: Water Consciousness
Food and Water Watch.org
Global Population
Global Water Policy.org
Stop Corporate Abuse.org

Win $500. More information: Here

Are You Conscious? Living In Present Minded Awareness.

2009-08-07T19:58:00.010-04:00

What do you consider being conscious? What do you feel it is like living in a state of consciousness or conscious awareness? Consciousness is defined loosely as being "awake" "aware" or connected; "In tune" with your environment, surroundings, other human beings and the planet. Many people who consider themselves "conscious" feel this sentiment but also know it as something more deeply connected than this. One of the final frontiers of human investigation is in the realm of consciousness. A research project I have followed for years is the Global Consciousness Project. They have been investigating whether a construct of integrated human compartmentalized or global consciousness can be validated. It is interesting stuff. You should check out their research. Being a student of science, psychology, spirituality and philosophy, I enjoy sharing and helping others to know themselves a bit more deeply as well as to open their realm of experience in life. This subject is far to expansive to blather on about in a blog post but I'll provide some further investigation into the realm.

Here is a new blog I think you will enjoy on the concepts of consciousness
The Star People

For more insight into consciousness, feel free to visit the links below. Good luck to you in your search for consciousness.
Stanford Excyclopedia of Philosophy
The Mystery of Consciousness
Global Consciousness Project
Gregg Braden
The Monroe Institute
John Kabat Zinn and John 2
Krishnamirti
Ken Wilber

Food Additives Detrimental To Good Health That You Should Avoid.

2009-08-05T08:44:00.007-04:00

The chemical transformation of the food industry began over one hundred years ago and by the 1980’s there was over 20,000 chemically altered food products on store shelves. By 2000 the list had grown to over 30,000 chemically adulterated,processed, preserved, treated, or modified foods on store shelves in the United States and the list is even greater now. Chemicals were and are used in the all phases of food production. They are used in the growing process to enhance, speed up or modify growth. They are used for pest control, for prevention of crop disease, and for food preservation from transportation to store shelves to the home. Finding a way to make foods last longer prevented financial losses from products that went bad and had to be discarded. The use of chemicals facilitated the transformation of food industry to meet the demands of an every growing population and transference to city life away from rural living and growth of cities pushing farther and farther out with suburban sprawl pushing farming far away. We now understand that although there was a sincere interests in progressing food production and distribution, there have been and continue to be very dire consequences to our individual health as a result of this so called modernization of food production. Higher standards of quality or perceived quality also contributed to the transformation of foods. Most often food additive chemicals were and are used to preserve, enhance, flavor, sweeten, color, thicken, texturize, and stabilize.

Research has shown that many of these additives are carcinogenic and potentially linked to cancers, tumors, organ dysfunction such as thyroid conditions as well as neurological dysfunctions.(1) Of significant importance is the discovery that many artificial food colorings have been linked to hyperactivity in sensitive children. Currently the FDA is being petitioned by CSPI -Center for Science in the Public Interest to ban the food colorings Yellow # 5 and 6, Red # 3 and 40, Blue # 1 and 2, Green #3, and Orange B. They cite the growing evidence that links them along with the preservative sodium benzoate to hyperactivity and other behavior problems in children.(2) Parents who feel their children have been harmed by food dyes are urged to file reports online at the Center For Science In The Public Interest. Other negative effects from additives can be weight gain, obesity, heart disease and diabetes, colon irritation and potential reduction of absorption of beneficial nutrients by the body, diarrhea, gas, and headaches.(3)

Here is a summary of some of the most common additives that may be extremely detrimental to your well being. Most of the effects of which will be realized over time as your body ages. In children the effects can be very rapid and some could be permanent.

In my opinion, these are ingredients to avoid. Don't consume products containing these:

1. Artificial Colorings- these synthetic chemicals are most often not derived from natural sources and most often are in foods of low quality.
2. Aspartame
3. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
4. Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
5. Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
6. Natural Flavorings – often a disguised form of MSG
7. BHA – Butylated Hydroxyanazole
8. BHT – Butylated Hydroxytolulene
9. Asulfame K- a sweetener often mixed with Sucralose or other artificial sweetener.
10. Sorbital
11. Carageenen
12. Hydrolized Vegetable Protien
13. High Fructose Corn Syrup
14. Hydrogenated Starch Hydrosalate – HSH
15. Diacetyl
16. Olestra
17. Mycoprotien
18. Potassium Bromate
19. Propyl Galate
20. Saccharin
21. Sodium Benzoate – Benzoic Acid
22. Sodium Nitrate, Sodium Nitrite
23. Sulfites
24. *Rebiana – a new sweetener planning to be used by Coca Cola and Pepsi in its drinks in 2009. It is derived from Stevia and is 200-300% sweeter than sugar but some preliminary research shows DNA damage and mutations that increase the prospect of cancer. It may prove to be ok but more independent research is needed.

For a list of common food additives, please reference -The Center for Science in the Public Interest and More Info on additives to avoid & health conditions.

Sources: 1 2 3
Image: Here

How To Tone Up Your Butt and Thighs In 5-10 Minutes A Day

2009-08-04T12:05:00.002-04:00

Today is the first segment on my new featured fitness post segment titled
Tight Ass Tuesdays.

How To Tone Up Your Butt and Legs In 5-10 Minutes a Day:

1 Minute Squats

1 Minute Lunges or Reverse Lunges

1 Minute Side Step Lunges

1 Minute Hip Raises

1 Minute Hip Extension

Do one 1 Min. set if your a beginner and two if your intermediate. If you workout regularly then doing a circuit routine of each of these in continuous succession for 1 minute each or a 1 set each in a series of 3 sets of 20-30 repetitions. This isn't the only way to tone the butt and thighs but a quick routine to help you out. Get going and go tone up.

** If you want a really great program to burn fat in limited time: Read More Here Or check out the 15 minute workout

** Try this routine out: The Pilates Thigh and Butt Routine

Climate Change Data. A Video Worth Watching

2009-08-03T21:20:00.001-04:00

What do you think about climate change? This is an interesting video about research on climate change showing there is a trend toward global warming. This video was previously being suppressed by a broadcast meteorologist, Anthony Watts, an avid anti-climate change reporter. He said there was a copyright infringement and had it temporarily removed from YouTube. You can see his comments at the link below the video. Research both sides of the coin. Let me know what you think about the global warming issue.

Video: Source

Anthony Watts comments Anthony Watts Blog Post

Tabata Protocol. The Real Efficient Fat Burning Workout

2009-08-02T09:38:00.001-04:00

The Tabata Protocol was developed by a Japanese speed skating coach and later refined by Dr. Izumi Tabata Ph.D. for whom it is named. It is a super efficient high intensity, short duration workout program designed to develop peak aerobic and anaerobic conditioning. The total workout length is about 14 minutes consisting of a five minute warm up, four minutes of high intensity interval training and a five minute cool down period. The Tabata Protocol can and probably will be one of the most effective aerobic and fat burning weight loss workout programs you will ever do. As always, you should consult with a qualified medical practitioner prior to starting an exercise program and if you have any underlying medical conditions. If you are a beginner or semi-regular gym goer, then you will want to start with a modified protocol to do only 2 or 3 intervals and build up your intensity and intervals as your conditioning improves to the 6-8 intervals of 20 seconds of high intensity followed by 10 seconds of rest. The Tabata Protocol will challenge you like no other workout but you will be surprised and pleased with the benefits & results and this is a workout program that anybody can fit into their schedule because it only takes about 15 minutes. My suggestion to you would be to incorporate a variety of exercises into the interval routine to include all major muscle groups. That way you will engage in a total body conditioning & toning program while doing a routine that will burn fat and improve your cardiovascular conditioning.

To learn more about the Tabata Protocol, see this link
How To Do The Tabata Workout
There are also plenty of videos out there to give you some ideas on workout variety. Remember though, that you want to try and incorporate multiple muscle groups by doing a circuit of different exercises. If you use it for improving running, bicycling, swimming or other athletic pursuit, then you will want to use the Tabata interval protocol during these sport specific conditioning workouts as well and the parameters can be slightly modified such as 30 seconds of all out sprinting followed by 30 seconds at slow speed. Good luck and keep fit.

Additional Reference: Source
Abstract of The Research Study: Source
Tabata Protocol.com

Problems With Blogger Comments

2009-08-01T16:06:00.005-04:00

Having trouble with Blogger Comments? Unable to leave a comment on Blogger blogs? If you are having problems with people not being able to leave comments or are unable to respond to comments posted on your own blog then I think I have the answer on how to solve your problem.

For months now my comments on some blogs disappear into never-never land, no matter which type of ID I choose. Even "Name/URL". Even "Anonymous". I have never been able to comment on any blog has the "comment as" button that uses this type of comment form. (Blogs with "Choose an identity" seem to work fine.)

It took awhile to get the answers and I believe this is the best solution and it is a quick easy fix. Here is the trick. If it works for you, then please leave a comment here and share this post with others. Link this post into your blog and post about it as well. Just remember if you copy and past this post, then please link back to my blog. Thanks. I will spread the word to other bloggers on how to fix it as well.

HERE IS HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON BLOGGER WITH BLOGGER COMMENT FORMS:

* log into you blogger blog
* click on settings
* click on comments
* scroll down to comment placement form and select the FULL PAGE option
* make sure that the button for full page is selected.
* scroll down and click save settings.

******This should do the trick for your own blog issues. Now tell others to do the same and we'll have it fixed.

HR 2749 Food Safety Enhancement Act Passes In The House. Is That Good?

2009-07-31T20:04:00.014-04:00

There is plenty of concern going around regarding HR 2749 which is a essentially a modified reintroduction of HR 875 that was shot down and defeated earlier this year. Basically, the new administration is seeking to get a handle on food safety & to clean up the lax regulatory standards and previous malfeasance of our regulatory agencies which in itself is a noble cause. There is a bevy of bills trying to get rammed through Congress, in an effort by both branches of Congress, to stand proud and say "See, look what we did. We cleaned up the agencies and got them working right to protect you". Well, that is good in premise but in reality, often the consumer and small business person are the ones getting whacked in the rush to push things through without fully taking the time to consider the implications of these new bills and their often skewed benefits toward conglomerates and not the people or small businesses they are slated to protect. So should we be concerned that this bill passed the House of Representatives and now will go to the Senate? Maybe - Maybe not. I will leave it up to you to decide for yourself. If you don't know what I am talking about, then you should get acquainted. Pay a little more attention to things that can affect your health, wellness, finances, and freedoms. My initial review of the pdf doc shows some promise. The one issue I have that is not clear to me is why are the large corporations exempted from the provisions of this bill? We shall see what the final re-write reveals.

If you would like to see the entire pfd document of the bill submitted click HERE

Here are some sites for an overview:
Food Policy Regulation and Open Congress

For as much as this article is pedantic rhetoric, there are some very valid issues and concerns regarding this legislation. Read MoreHere

Another perspective Natural Solutions Foundation

The Top 10 Super Green Foods" />

The Technorati List

2009-07-30T18:42:00.000-04:00

This post is a tribute to all the hard working mothers out there who often don't get enough credit. These are some very well developed and maintained blogs from Moms with Technorati Authority that I think you would enjoy.

The Technorati List:

If your interested in helping to boost your ranking and authority then it's time to repost our list. If you want to join, follow these simple steps.
~Copy and paste this blog post into a new blog post on your site. ~Go to Sited and Blogged to signup, follow her directions to add your link. The list is being continued for just a little while longer. Be sure to check back at the end of the month then go back to Sited and Blogged and update your list with all of the members. We are attempting to limit this list to 100 blog links.

SitedandBlogged
The Contest Hub
I am Harriet
Lifes Perfect Pictures
Diana Rambles
Insanity and Bliss
Lolas Diner
Life is Sweet
Happy Healthy Families
Five Monkeys
More Fun Than Allowed With Kids
I Like It Frantic
The RedHead Riter(tm)
Yes I Know What Causes That
A Pocket Full Of Buttons
Outnumbered3-1
Pretty Little Skirts
Valeriegail
MAinfo
Annie Kelleher
Eclectic Schooling
Attic Girl
I Heart Futopia
Frugal Creativity
Super Mommy To The Rescue
Penny Pinching Penguin
Life With A Toddler
A Happy Hippy Mom
Flying Giggles and Lollipops
Happily Blended
Fairy BlogMother Blog
Psychic Mama Indigo Child
Snips and Snails Boutique
The Divine Miss Mommy
Josie's Window
A Little Of The Other
Confessions of a Moody Mommy
A Georgia Angel
Penelope's Oasis
Natural Impulse

What You Might Not Know About Your Organic Food

2009-07-30T16:47:00.004-04:00

Factory Farming, Agribusiness and Organic Food: Here Is The Connection.
Source:Click Here

I had posted this similar info on my other blog but I am focusing almost exclusively on this one so I wanted to get the exposure this post needs by placing it here with a few additional details.

This is a flow chart I discovered while working on my book. It outlines how large agribusiness is moving in on the Organic food movement sometimes with reckless, abusive manipulation leading to marginalization of products or at the least incorporating a portion of non organic ingredients. It is important for all of you to know if you are pursuing the Organic lifestyle. Do your homework. Don’t over pay for things that are not what you expect them to be. Make a few calls and read your labels. If a product only has one organic ingredient, why would you pay a much higher price? Many of these companies make good products but we must stay vigilant. Who do you think inadvertently ruined the food supply over the last 50 - 100 years? Replacing good wholesome food with overly processed, nutrient deficient & chemically laden foods. Learn more about what you need to know to Live Smartandstay informed.

Organic food is still the more beneficial but now we must tread diligently and not get duped. Some manufacturers produce foods with only one organic ingredient, some ingredients are not certified to the source or worse. Let’s watch these products and stay informed. They may be very good products sporting the new plainly and boldly visible USDA Organic label on the front of them but we also know the USDA has not acted in your best interest in the past. The list of non organic substances allowed in organic foods was supposed to have decreased from the level of 25 ingredients but instead has increased to over 200 ingredients. This belabors my point. Many of the products from these companies are good products. Some may not be. They may take a turn to cheapen the products during hard economic times. Take action to keep these companies honest. Demand what you want and don’t want in a product. These are tough times and we can afford to choose. If the large conglomerates begin to bastardize or marginalize the product, as has begun to happen on some fronts, we have the power to act together. We can act, share information, expose problems and collectively boycott purchases of these products. We can choose to support local small businesses, farmers, and producers thus putting a strain on the pocket books of the large conglomerates, whereby initiating a reason for them to take action to support our wishes. Contact your congress person and voice your opinions regarding organics, food production, chemicals in food and especially regarding HR 2749 (The Food Safety Enhancement Act). This bill in it's current form can essentially restrict your ability to grow your own food, puts undue regulation and extortionate fees on small farms & producers thus putting may local businesses OUT OF BUSINESS. Some of your freedoms, your right to choose and health are at stake here. Use this form to voice your opinion. Democracy In Action
Read more about this bill Open Congress, Farm To Consumer, Food Poison Journal House of Representatives Offices Contact Info House.gov

Clean Green Cheap Solar Power. They Found A Way To Make It.

2009-07-27T23:54:00.012-04:00

Today's shining star is Ms. Nicole Kuepper (Ph.D. Student and Lecturer, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales). Ms. Kuepper and a team of researchers have found an easy, fast and inexpensive way to make solar cells to be used in the production of solar power. This is a great step in the process of making cheap, efficient solar electricity. Can you imagine it? Low cost power. I hope that their research and progress becomes utilized in larger production and provided in regions of the world where electricity is nonexistent or unreliable at best.

The iJET is a new type of solar cell that's cheap and easy to make, requiring not much more than a pizza oven, some nail polish remover, and a common inkjet printer.

Read More of this story NPR - Cheap Solar

Australian scientist Nicole Kuepper describes her invention.
Listen To The Interview NPR Interview with Nicole Kuepper

Support NPR & Public Radio: Learn More at Support NPR

How You Can Prevent Cancer: The Number #1 Strategy

2009-07-26T08:31:00.017-04:00

How can you prevent cancer? The number one thing you can do to prevent cancer is by maintaining a balanced pH level in your body. Virtually all degenerative diseases including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney and gall stones, and even tooth decay are associated with excess acidity in the body. Your body is a finely tuned mechanism that will seek to maintain a constant pH 7.4 in the blood. This is what is called homeostasis. This mechanism works by depositing and withdrawing acid and alkaline minerals from foods we consume or from the bones, soft tissues, body fluids and saliva. The Nobel Prize in Medicine was given in 1931 for the discovery that cancer occurs in the absence of free oxygen. Alkaline solutions (above 7.0pH) absorb oxygen, as much as 100 times more oxygen than mild acid solutions. Therefore, keeping your body alkaline will help it to absorb more oxygen.

The perfect pH balance for your body is 7.3-7.5. Your goal is to maintain it in or above that range. Why? Because cancer cannot exist in a strong alkaline environment, the cancer cells die. In addition, all forms of arthritis are associated with excess acidity. In almost all cases, if you improve the alkalinity of your body it will eliminate much of the inflammation in your body whereby eliminating the pain associated with arthritis. No matter what your health situation is, you can monitor your progress toward a proper acid/alkaline balance by testing your saliva pH. You can use these easy pH test strips to monitor your pH level.

Once you know where your at, you start taking action. There are many ways to create pH balance & prevent your body from becoming to acidic. To maintain the pH balance of the body you must consume lots of fresh vegetables, greens, grasses and fruits. Eating raw fresh produce is important because once you cook or process raw fresh vegetables and fruits it destroys most of the enzymes necessary to create the alkalinity. Green grasses such as barley or wheatgrass are of the lowest-calorie, lowest-sugar and most nutrient-rich foods on earth, and contain high amounts of fiber. The easiest way to incorporate them into your diet is through a Superfood supplement that will also contain probiotic enzymes to heal & maintain your internal systems.

So start today. Test your pH, eat more fresh vegetables and or drink fresh vegetable juices, consume sprouted vegetables (alfalfa sprouts, mung bean sprouts etc.)and take a Superfood supplement.

Test Your pH: Essential pH Diagnostic Strips On Sale
Get A Superfood Supplement: Perfect Food Berry Splash

Support Cancer Research: Click on the Social Vibe banner in my sidebar. It won't cost you anything and you will be helping to make a contribution to cancer research. Thanks.

**My site was not designed to diagnose, cure, or treat any disease. If you are suffering from any medical condition, you should consult a qualified and licensed medical practitioner.

Make A Difference: Buy Local, Organic , Fair Made Products. Here Is How

2009-07-22T00:26:00.016-04:00

With the ever increasing Wal-Martization of society, a rise in sweatshop labor, and the proliferation of “off shore” corporate organics, it can be hard to Break the Chains. Here are 12 organizations that can help. Visit their web sites, enter your zip code, and you’re on your way to finding Local, Organic, and Fair Made alternatives in your community.

1.) Local Harvest.org
2.) Eat Well Guide.org
3.) Supermarket Coop.com
4.) Natural Food Net.com
5.) IGA.com
6.) Delocator.com
7.) Booksense.com
8.) Astratoy.org
9.) Clean Clothes Connection.org
10.) Transfairusa.org
11.) GreenPeople.org
12.) GreenPages.org

For More Information & To Get More Involved, Check Out My Sources
Sources:
Break The Chains Buying Guide
Organic Consumers Assoc.

A Great Resource For Discounts & Coupons and to help local businesses spread promotions is a new place: Smart Local Shoppers.com Check them out and tell others about it.

What Do You Know About Mesothelioma?

2009-07-21T23:20:00.011-04:00

I was contacted by the Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center today about my blogs and hoping that I would offer some assistance to their program cause. I said sure and offered to help spread awareness of Asbestos cancer since I am an avid supporter of awareness campaigns and strategies for prevention and treatment of all cancers. Please read this guest post by Barbara O'brien and share it with others to help spread the word. You just may save a life. Thanks.

Read The Posts:

Teachers and Students Slammed For Asbestos Expose and What You Should Know About Products Still Made With Asbestos

Need an Energy Boost? Do you need to lose a few pounds?

Sunshine Is Good For You

2009-07-19T17:03:00.009-04:00

Yes that's right. Sunshine on your skin is good for you. Just as long as you don't bake for hours out there. Lack of exposure to sunshine results quite often in a lack of vitamin D in your body. Most people do not eat enough of the proper foods to get adequate amounts of vitamin D. Deficiency in this vitamin is linked to higher incidence of cancer, osteoporosis, and a decrease in immune function Adequate amount of vitamin D also leads to an increase in survival prognosis of cancers. The kicker here is not to go out and get burned or bake for hours since to much sunshine leads to a greater risk of skin cancer and those sunscreens may not be good for you either. A simple rule of thumb would be to get 5 -30 minutes of sun exposure between 10 AM and 3 PM at least two to three times a week to the face, arms, legs, or back without sunscreen.when you can. Now this is not always feasible given the change of seasons for some people, so be sure to get adequate amounts of vitamin D by eating wild caught salmon, sardines, organic - rBGH or rBST free milk and cheese products and or take a supplement containing 200 to 400 IU of vitamin D if your between the ages of 18-70 and 600 IU if your over 70yrs old.

Other reasons Sunshine is good for you:

* It boosts your mood. Sunshine helps to increase neurotransmitters in your brain responsible for positive moods.
* It will help you sleep better. The exposure to natural sunlight in the morning increases the production of melatonin during the evening. This chemical in your brain helps regulate sleep.1
* It helps keep your liver healthy.2 Your liver is the "clearinghouse" of toxins in the body. Natural spectrum light exposure helps the liver to function better.
* It can help alleviate skin conditions such as psoriasis.3

Additional sources:
National Institute Of Health
Reasons Sunshine Is Good For You
Your Baby Jaundice and Phototherapy
Phototherapy

Swine Flu Update

2009-07-17T12:56:00.013-04:00

Here is a great video presentation from Barbara Loe Fisher from the NVIC-National Vaccine Information Center with clear, detailed information regarding vaccination that you need to know now.
Watch The Vaccine Information Center Video

Here is today's update on the Swine Flu (H1N1): the CDC - Center for Disease Control, has today stated that they expect an increase in the Swine Flu cases in the coming months. They also confirmed that there is over one million cases in the US. It still is relatively mild and has not mutated to become more virulent yet. It is still progressing around the globe. The manufacturers of vaccines have stated that they are running into problems with developing the vaccine and that there will not be enough vaccine to go around come this fall. Expect a battle for the drugs between nations and that there will be a shortfall of vaccine to go around. Hopefully, the media will keep a tempered tone and and not stir things up. My opinion, don't get to reliant on the purported "wonder drugs". Be cautious of any vaccine, especially one that is produced rapidly without effective testing. Do a little research on vaccines. You may be surprised what you will find. Are they really that effective? Do they cause harm? What do you think?

Also, there is a bill congressional bill, HR 2618, making it's way through congress that is supposed to provide better investigation into vaccines and assign an independent agency within the HHS Dept. for oversight. Agencies within agencies don't have a great track record of effectively protecting your health. In addition, aspects of the bill in it's current form may not allow the public to know what is in the vaccine or what the potential side effects are. This causes me some concern. Stay on top of this legislation & voice your concerns at: Gov't Tracks So be vigilant. Go to this site Live Smart Today and scroll down to the Swine Flu area & find out the top three things you should get today to prevent and manage any flu naturally. Also, get your body's immune system in peak condition. Use this site to find out how: SuperFoods For Peak Health

This virus will be around for awhile. Stay informed. Get healthy and eat as much healthy raw food as you can. Live Smarter. Here is more
Swine Flu vaccine Info to get "prepared". To keep abreast of the info Visit Medical News Today and The Center For Infectious Disease Research and Policy To get information of Flu Preparedness: Visit Pandemic Flu Preparedness to get the tips from the CDC

This is something else that you should know: It's your health: Please Read

The 15 Minute Workout

2009-07-14T23:44:00.013-04:00

Just about everybody is busy as heck these days and when it comes to exercise, some people just don't think they have the time and are always making some kind of excuse why they didn't get to the gym or why they didn't go for that 45 min. walk. Well, I wanted to provide information to people on how they can incorporate a dynamic and effective 5-15 minute exercise routines into their day. Many can be performed at work or at home. Even right next to your desk as your reading this post. These routines can even be done by those already working out regularly but seeking to increase their results or perhaps lose a few extra pounds but need effective time management. I compiled a list of a few 5min to 15min. workout routines for you to easily follow along & learn some routines to get and keep you fit. Realizing that some people are beginners & some advanced and anywhere in between, you will notice that some of the routines may not be for you. The point you should take away is to either modify the exercise a bit to fit your caliber of ability or perform only the exercises you are capable of doing. Staying consistent, committed and persistent will help you stay well and be fitter than ever before. Now quit making excuses and get started. If any of you try Dr. Lerner's program below, stop back and provide a testimonial. I would like to hear about your progress. Thank you.

Womans 15 min. All levels of fitness
Mens 15 Min. Workout All Levels
15 Min. Men and Women All fitness levels
4 min Workout Routine. Advanced
The 15 Min. Office Workout

The Fast Efficient Weight Loss Program Highly Recommended. Dr. Ben Lerner's Revolutionary 12 Minute Program. Dr. Lerner was a two time Olympic team trainer and is a best selling fitness author. Jump start your program.

*If you are sedentary or beginning an exercise program, consult with your physician or naturopathic physician prior to starting any exercise program.

Healing Inflammation and Pain Control with Herbs

2009-07-14T20:44:00.011-04:00

Do you want to get rid of Pain? How about reducing inflammation in your body as a result of disease? Pain is quite often the result of inflammation in the body. The body will react to substances both external and internal often in a defensive manner where it attacks the offending substance or even the body parts itself as with arthritis. Auto immune disease is also manifested in inflammatory response where the body attacks itself. You can however take steps to alleviate the pain and reduce inflammation naturally through herbs .Would you like to know what herbs and foods will help? Green tea is a plant & not necessarily an herb but has been revered for not only for it's anti-inflammatory properties but as a cancer preventative: Read More about the many benefits of Green Tea Visit University Of Maryland Green Tea Overview Read More about Herbs at Healing with herbal medicine

Goji Berries: A 6000 Yr. Old Healing Fruit

2009-07-12T16:00:00.008-04:00

Goji berries, native to the regions of Tibet, have been used for over 6000 years for health and healing throughout Tibet, China and Mongolia. The Goji is the Tibetan lycium and widely regarded as the most powerful of the lycium found throughout Asia. Although relatively new to the U.S. consumer, the Goji berry is quickly becoming one of the premier super-fruits. This is mainly due to the fact that it packs a potent antioxidant nutrient punch. They have more beta-carotene than carrots; more antioxidants than blueberries; many B vitamins and zeaxanthin. The berry which you will find almost exclusively here in the US in dried form and resembles a red narrow raisin with a sweet sour taste. The monks and traditional medicinal practitioners in the east used the Goji as one of its primary healthy foods & teas for longevity as well as for the following:

* Improve libido, fertility and sexual well being
* Improve immune function
* Increase circulation
* Strengthen muscles
* Heal & protect the liver

There is a host of products and manufacturers out there making everything from juice, health bars and powders to capsules, extracts and even chocolate bars mixed with the Goji in it. However, many are not using the Tibetan Goji which is also organic but instead an alternate variety of lycium, a Chinese variety called the "wolfberry", that is not organic, not as nutrient dense but often purported as such and using the Goji name. The Tibetan Goji has the most potent nutrient value and is the real Goji so be sure your getting Tibetan Goji berries and not wolfberry or lycium barbarum variety.

Many of the juice & other products sporting the Goji label or Goji juice name are actually from Chinese Wolfberry and will say it on the label. These juices are quite expensive, can contain some residue from pesticides and may not pack the antioxidant power of the real fruit. My suggestion would be to get the actual Tibetan Goji berries and mix them with some almonds & walnuts to eat as a snack or use them on salads, on cereal, in muffins or just munch on them by themselves. This will be less expensive and probably better for you. If you prefer the juice, then choose wisely. Enjoy.

To validate the authenticity of vendors of Goji Berries or a Goji berry product: Validate Authentic Goji Berry Distributors
Order Today: Organic Tibetan Goji Berries from the Tibetan Goji Berry Company.

The Top 10 Super Green Foods" />

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Eggcellent News About Eggs

2009-07-11T11:17:00.010-04:00

You have heard the catchy tag line, "the incredible edible egg", well here are some interesting facts you should know. Where do white eggs and brown eggs come from? White eggs come from hens with white feathers and ear lobes. Brown eggs come from hens with red feathers and ear lobes. How long do eggs last? Egg cartons from USDA inspected plants must display a Julian Date which is the date they were packed. Eggs coming from non-USDA plants don't have this requirement. Many manufacturers do put an expiration date on the package which is usually 30 days. It is probably best to eat the eggs within a few days of the expiration date as to avoid illness from Salmonella or other bacteria. Eggs are nutritious. They are considered a nutrient dense food which means they have a high proportion of nutrients to calories ratio. A large egg has about 73 calories and provides thirteen essential nutrients. They are a great source of protein, choline which is good for the brain, vitamin B2, folate, vitamin A, vitamin D, lutein, zeaxanthin and lest we forget Omega 3 fatty acids which are so vital to cardiovascular health and too many people don't get enough of.

Before you down just any old eggs consider these facts:

Pasture raised - known as free range eggs contain:
* 1/3 less cholesterol
* 1/4 less saturated fat
* 2/3 more vitamin A
* Two times more omega-3 fatty acids
* Three times more vitamin E
* Seven times more beta carotene
* Three to six times more vitamin D

This is compared to the USDA data for factory raised chickens which of course are bound to a tiny little cage with no exposure to the outside & fed grain diets that are not natural & grain that is usually treated with pesticides. The vitamin D is especially important as we are continuing to discover how vital this nutrient is to preventing heart disease, cancer, diabetes and even multiple sclerosis. Most people are deficient in vitamin D because they don't get enough sunshine on their body{read about it : Mother Earth Vitamin D Sunshine Supplement} which is the easy & primary way to get it.

The Yolk is not evil. Although the egg white contains over 95% of the protein in the egg, the egg yolk is what holds most of the key nutrients & vitamins. So if you eliminate it because you think the cholesterol is to much, then your losing out on the benefits. The farm raised eggs contain more heart healthy Omega 3 fatty acids and a large scale study reported in the Medical Science Monitor showed that people who ate eggs even every day did not increase their risk of heart disease or stroke and even had improved blood pressure. So eat the yolks too. Get the nutrients you need. Eat pasture raised - farm raised - eggs preferable organic if you can because this will also eliminate the concern over pesticides on the grazing grounds and in the feed used for these chickens. Always wash your hands after handling eggs before touching anything else just in case there is bacteria on the shell. Never eat raw eggs this could be dangerous. Support locally grown and raised foods - buy local - get fresher - stay healthier. Above all Live Smart