People Against Dirty

The guys at Method Home are so cool. Founders, Eric Ryan & Adam Lowry are all for clean. Clean air, clean water, clean homes, and clean living. Their premium home care products are highly effective, safe, and packaged with respect for both your design sensibilities and the environment. Your home is a reflection of who you are and how you want to live. So why not live clean?

You can start off by trying Method's starter kit which includes: all-purpose spray cleaner, dish soap, biodegradable wipes, hand wash, triple-concentrated laundry detergent and dryer sheets all for USD $24.99. You'll be hooked! Check out Methodhome.com for more information on some cool, hip, safe eco friendly cleaning products. Their smart and stylish packaging will look swell on your shevles too!

Ten Good Reasons to Buy Organic

1. Organic products meet stringent standards
   Organic certification is the public’s assurance that products have been grown and handled according to strict procedures without persistent toxic chemical inputs.
   
2. Organic food tastes great!
   It’s common sense – well-balanced soils produce strong, healthy plants that become nourishing food for people and animals.
   
3. Organic production reduces health risks
   Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. Organic agriculture is one way to prevent any more of these chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water that sustain us.
   
4. Organic farms respect our water resources
   The elimination of polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, done in combination with soil building, protects and conserves water resources.
   
5. Organic farmers build healthy soil
   Soil is the foundation of the food chain. The primary focus of organic farming is to use practices that build healthy soils.
   
6. Organic farmers work in harmony with nature
   Organic agricultural respects the balance demanded of a healthy ecosystem: wildlife is encouraged by including forage crops in rotation and by retaining fence rows, wetlands, and other natural areas.
   
7. Organic producers are leaders in innovative research
   Organic farmers have led the way, largely at their own expense, with innovative on-farm research aimed at reducing pesticide use and minimizing agriculture’s impact on the environment.
   
8. Organic producers strive to preserve diversity
   The loss of a large variety of species (biodiversity) is one of the most pressing environmental concerns. The good news is that many organic farmers and gardeners have been collecting and preserving seeds, and growing unusual varieties for decades.
   
9. Organic farming helps keep rural communities healthy
   USDA reported that in 1997, half of U.S. farm production came from only 2% of farms. Organic agriculture can be a lifeline for small farms because it offers an alternative market where sellers can command fair prices for crops.
   
10. Organic abundance – Foods and non-foods alike!
    Now every food category has an organic alternative. And non-food agricultural products are being grown organically – even cotton, which most experts felt could not be grown this way.

Click here for more information on the various Organic Farming Associations

Tongue Scraping for Health

Despite its recent exposure in the U.S., tongue cleaning is not a new practice. Long before we had terms like "plaque" and "halitosis," tongue scraping was a common practice in many cultures such as ancient India, Egypt and China.

The idea behind tongue scraping is simple: old mucus from meat, sugar, dairy and processed foods form a layer of coating on the tongue. This not only masks the taste of food by coating the tastebuds, but also keeps us tasting and craving those "old" foods.

Therefore, when starting to eat and enjoy natural foods such as vegetables and whole grains, the odds are against us if old mucus residues are on the tongue, as well as oral bacteria and debris. Tongue scraping helps to eliminate the layer of mucus by physically scraping it off on a daily basis, as opposed to brushing one’s tongue, which usually does little more than mash the mucus and bacterial debris down into the tongue.

Tongue scraping also reduces breath odors and bacteria by 75%, making breath fresh. And, it's safe and natural!

People report dramatically reduced cravings, the ability to better TASTE the essence of clean food and, as a result, weight loss, control over bingeing and cleaner breath after using the tongue scraper 2-3 times a day.

How to use the tongue scraper:

• Apply a few quick strokes, 2 – 3 times a day.
• Use the rounded cleaning edge to scrape gently down the tongue several times while
  applying slight pressure.
• Rinse under running water and gently scrape again until no white residue is left.
• There should be no pain or gagging involved whatsoever. If you feel any discomfort, you’re probably scraping too hard or starting too far back on the tongue.

You can purchase tongue scrapers at drugstore.com

Are Plastic Water Bottles Safe?

Recent studies link toxins such as bisphenol-a (BPA) to breast cancers and reproductive mutations. Plastics migrate carcinogens including BPA during regular use, exposure to heat, and especially after cleaning.

For those of you concerned with plastic water bottles, there is an alternative! Klean Kanteen is a reusable, light weight, risk-free stainless steel container that does not leach toxins into its contents.

Perfect for hikers, bikers, kids and anyone who keeps themselves hydrated. Rinse after use to keep it clean. This canteen works for cold or hot beverages. Slim design fits into most bottle holders.

It does a body good!

Click here for more information on Plastic Water Bottle Safety.

To purchase this and other cool "green" finds go to greenfeet.com

Ayurvedic Insight - Raisins

Raisins are dried grapes.

One of the star fruits in Indian cuisine, ripe brown raisins are found dotted about in rich milk puddings, ensconced inside sweet syrupy cheese balls called Gulabjamuns, and stirred into fragrant rice.

Ayurvedic Physicians say there is a reason why raisins are used so generously in Indian cooking from times immemorial. The ancient sages and rishis of India taught the people to weave the use of raisins and other healing foods into their everyday lives. This enabled them to eat healthy food without thinking of it as "medicinal." Just like education is very effective when combined with entertainment, healing foods also work best when you also enjoy their taste. Just so with raisins.

In Ayurveda, raisins are considered a highly beneficial food. Ayurveda scriptures say they have great medicinal value. Some aspects of the psycho-physiology where raisins work best:

• The lungs: Raisins lubricate the body's channels-particularly the lungs. Therefore, people with less than robust respiratory systems find them very healing.
• The brain: Raisins have a medhya effect, which supports the brain and nurtures it.
• The mind: Taken in quantities and combinations recommended by a qualified ayurvedic practitioner, raisins can uplift and balance the emotions.
• The throat: Raisins with milk or water can relieve thirst.
• The bowel: Raisins soaked overnight and taken in the morning support bowel movements.
• The womb: Women who want to get pregnant have been known to benefit by including raisins in their diet-raisins are considered bringhana foods, supportive of natural fertility.

For more info on Rasins: mapi.com

Chocolate = Health Food

The "prototype" of chocolate milk was a foamy mess of cacao dregs with chili peppers that Indians in the Americas traditionally drank to stimulate energy, digestion and sexuality. This concoction worked because cacao is rich in phenol, an antioxidant that is also found in red wine. The U.S. Magazine Natural Health notes that phenol lowers blood pressure, make our vascular system ore elestic, and reduces the risk of blood clots. Note that milk chcoclate contains 2 to 3 times less phenol, so if you're enjoying chocolate for your health, choose the dark variety.

Ode Magazine voted Green & Black's chocolate one of their Top 20 Organic selections of the best natural products and sutainable companies.

Go to Green & Black's to find out where you can buy it in your area.

Protein Tips for Vegetarians

A vegetarian diet is associated with better health - lower cholesterol levels, increased anti-oxidants and greater intake of essential fatty acids. But vegetarianism can also lead to certain nutritional deficiencies, according the Australia's Nature&Health Magazine. Animal proteins contain a more full spectrum of essential fatty acids, while most vegetable proteins are less "complete". This is why variety is important. Those eating a vegetarian diet should understand the importance of classic protein combinations, such as re-fried beans on whole wheat bread, whole grain muesli and milk, chili beans with brown rice and vegetables stir-fried with tofu and cashew nuts. For fat, lean more towards seeds, nuts and healthy oils like linseed and olive oil. Also remember that calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin B12 are more difficult to absorb from vegetables sources. There is calcium in figs (usually in muesli or granola) and tahini (use in a salad dressing, substitute of peanut butter, or blend with chickpeas for a yummy dip). It's important to get enough vitamin C to absorb adequate iron. Zinc can be found in sunflower seeds, tahini, seaweed, and almonds, just to name a few. There are no vegetable sources of B12; a supplement is therefore recommended.

For the recipe of the rice and beans pictured go to: C & F Foods Inc.

Smart. Proud. Hungry.

Hey Smarty-pants, brown-bag your lunches in style and feel proud that each day you are helping cut down on the 25 million tons of placstic that end up in landfills each year. Storage is a snap: Just wrap the plate, bowl, and cup in the place mat and secure it with the stainless utensils.

Find this and other great eco finds at vesselstore.com

How to Recycle Thermometers

When a thermometer breaks, the amount of liquid mercury it contains is roughly enough to contaminate all the fish in a 20-acre lake - and enough to cause neurological damage in people, especially children. Several states have now banned the sale of mercury thermometers and are urging consumers to use such alternatives as digital electronic thermometers.

But don't throw your old mercury thermometer or old home thermostats in the trash - it will end up in a landfill or an incinerator, where it will vaporize into the air or find its way into the food supply through fish. Instead, check epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/mercury/collction.htm for mercury-recycling programs in your area. If you can't find one, contact your local hazardous waste hauler.

Natural Remedies for Depression

1. B vitamins—richly supplied in brown rice and beans; also in brewer’s yeast
2. Vinegar—ideally unpasteurized
3. Apple, especially green organic (avoid "Delicious" variety non-organic apples)
4. Cabbage, especially in the form of unpasteurized sauerkraut
5. Blue green algae (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae)
6. Exercise—very effective if practiced daily
7. Meditation—very effective once skill is gained
8. Avoid peanuts, pork, margarine, bad fats, deep fried foods, refined foods, overeating, late-night eating and too much saturated fat
9. Essential oils: Peppermint, spearmint, lavender, ylang ylang, grapefruit, clary sage, melissa; take in 1 drop doses daily in water or 1 teasp olive oil
10. Herbs in teas, pills, capsules, and extracts:

• mints of all kinds
• chamomile
• St. Johnswort
• citrus peel
• licorice root
• lemon balm leaf (sour, spicy, cool)
• saffron (spicy, sweet, bitter, neutral)

For more information on how you can combat depression naturally, you can contact Holistic Health Counselor, Charita Singh for a free 1 hour health consultation. See how one conversation can change your life.

The Healthiest "Paint" you can Buy

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Anna Sova Luxury Organics, paint that's made from up to 99 percent food-grade ingredients and none of the harmful compounds (solvents, mercury, formaldehyde, benzene) found in ordinary latex. Safe for children and pregnant women, they're pretty, to boot: Colors range from soft pastels to deep browns.

Add a $9 bottle of Anna Sova Organic Aromatherapy and your room will smell like fresh lemons, vanilla, orange and cloves, or sandalwood and spices — rather than headache-inducing chemicals.

Available online at annasova.com.

Preserved Produce

Get your recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables with these delicate decorative parchment bowls, constructed from slices of fresh produce. Designer Margaret Dorfman presses the materials until they are dehydrated, then crafts the one-of-a-kind bowls from overlapping strips of parchment. Perfect for potpourri and lovely when illuminated by a glass votive candle. Use decoratively, not for food. Like any other botanical, wreath or dry flower, color lightens with exposure to light. Many flavors to choose from, with blood orange the newest and sturdiest. Made in USA each bowl is $28

Available at uncommongoods.com

Ayurvedic Insight - Headaches

When you pop a painkiller to relieve a headache you are actually trying to quieten your body's distress signals instead of discovering and addressing the underlying imbalance.

The culprit is usually an imbalanced Vata-the most dominant and restless of the three doshas.

How Vata Headaches Happen

There are several factors that can cause Vata to go out of balance. Some of them are:
- Not sleeping well
- Not eating foods that nurture the brain
- Eating very dry or cold foods
- Eating leftovers or junk foods
- Keeping an irregular routine of meals and sleep
- Overexposure to cool, dry air
- Excessive reading, television watching or stressing at work
- Excessive air travel
- Not enough water

Before popping a painkiller, try drinking 2 glasses of water and wait 20 minutes, that usually does the trick.

More info on Ayurvedic Headache Cures are available at mapi.com

What's In Season - June

Local seasonal foods are tastier, fresher and more nutritious.
Why? It’s because the produce has been harvested in the last fews days and has only travelled a short distance to market. This means less packaging, processing and refrigeration. All good for the environment (no flying in food from all corners of the planet)and your health.

Here is a list of fruits and veggies that are in season for June:

• Apricots
• Arugula
• Asparagus
• Basil
• Beans
• Beets
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Chives
• Dandelion greens
• Fennel
• Lettuce (leaf)
• Mangoes
• Melons
• Okra
• Papayas
• Peaches
• Peas
• Peppers
• Plums
• Rhubarb
• Raspberries
• Sorrel
• Strawberries
• Summer squash
• Watermelon

Great all year:

• Avocados
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Kiwifruit
• Lemons
• Limes
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Pineapple
• Potatoes
• Radishes
• Scallions
• Snow Peas
• Spinach
• Sprouts

Note: If you live in and area with favorable growing conditions, many of these vegetables are available to you throughout the seasons.