December 2011
94 posts
The Year According to Monsanto: A GMO 'Roundup'
Monsanto’s marketing efforts pull imagery of an idyllic world of cooperation, support… downright hippy-esque harmony between the largest seed and pesticide company in the world and millions of struggling farmers. But the controversial manufacturer known for the toxic glyphosate-based Roundup and widespread genetically modified and hybrid seeds, paints a much different picture than...
Finally, A Guide to What Those Food Labels Really...
If you’ve ever been confused by the shiny labels decorating the front of every package in the supermarket aisle, you’re not alone. Phrases like “all natural,” “grass fed” and “organic” catch our eye, but without proper research, we may not realize that those words may not actually mean what our eyes are telling our brains and stomachs they mean. Crafty wordplay and loose legislation have...
Are You Ungrateful? Café Gratitude to Close After...
Café Gratitude, the popular vegan restaurant chain based in San Francisco, announced that it would close all eight of its Northern California locations after several former and current employees filed lawsuits against owners Matthew and Terces Englehart. http://dlvr.it/zWnP8
What A Whey to Celebrate the Season! The Organic...
We all look forward to the holidays—but overeating can get the best of us making us a little bit uncomfortable in our favorite reindeer sweaters. But you don’t have to sacrifice health this season. Don’t wait for the New Year to work off the season’s weight—start now by preventing it from getting you in the first place! We’ve got just the thing: A chance to win one of...
Creamy (Cream-Free) Potato Leek Bisque
When the sun sets at 4:30 and you eat dinner after dark, you’ve got to bring a little warmth and light to your table through other means. This golden, rich soup will brighten your evening without drowning you in calories: Creamy though it may taste, there’s not a drop of cream in it. Homemade croutons topped with anchovy and olive add a little crunch and a lot of flavor.
READ THE...
Deepak Chopra's Playful Yoga Video Game, Leela
I’ll be the first to admit that the idea of a yoga video game bugged me out. A number of people have told me that Wii Fit Yoga challenged them, even introducing a few to actual yoga studios, so I’m never against any channel that leads to yoga. When I was asked by Equinox Fitness to help develop a real yoga class based on Deepak Chopra’s Leela video game, I was skeptical....
Steak, Chicken or Horse? Obama Deregulates Horse...
A five year ban lifted by Congress last month could allow for the sale of horse meat for human consumption if facilities meet federal inspections. The decision came as a result of the recession, which hit just as a federal ban on horse slaughter was passed in 2007, and according to a federal report, a rise in horse neglect and abuse across the country. http://dlvr.it/zMKwb
Is Demand for Local Food Growing Too Fast?
The demand for local food is exceeding the infrastructure says a new report from the USDA’s Economic Research Service, titled Direct and Intermediated Marketing of Local Foods in the United States. http://dlvr.it/zHG62
Top 7 Spices That Fend Off Disease
Spices are important - they can make or break a dish. Case in point: Every time you try to recreate your favorite restaurant meal you can blame your fail on using the wrong type or amount of seasonings. But nailing a flavorful recipe isn’t the only benefit of spices. Turns out they’re also great for the immune system. Here are seven doctor approved spices you should make any excuse...
What's Fair Anyway? Fair Trade USA Withdraws from...
Fair Trade USA (formerly Transfair USA) incited a controversy with its decision to exit from the Fair Trade Labelling Organization earlier this year. Probably the most widely recognized symbol on products labeled as Fair Trade in the U.S. market, the organization also announced that it would now be including products sourced from factories and plantations in its definition of Fair Trade. The...
Scientists Remove Corn Steroids, Find Unsuspecting...
New research out of Purdue University and published in a recent issue of _Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences_ found what may be a money-saving discovery for the hybrid corn seed industry. http://dlvr.it/z78cz
9 Ways to Wrap Without Buying Wrapping Paper
Every year the holiday season generates an incredible amount of garbage, much of it in the form of wrapping paper that is purchased, used once, and then ripped into shreds and tossed in the trash. Reduce your holiday footprint by refusing to buy wrapping paper – try these creative ideas instead.
READ THE REST… http://dlvr.it/z2Q9H
Betabrand: Sustainable Clothing, Minus the Whale...
Chris Lindland is well aware that running a non-sustainable business in San Francisco is, at a minimum, out of the question.
He’s also aware that, in this city, it’s impossible to avoid “geek and science culture,” leaving business owners at an inevitable intersection of the nerdy and eco-friendly. Chris knows this, after all, because he’s one of them; in 2009, he founded Betabrand, an...
An Apple A Day Won’t Keep the Arsenic Away
After daytime talk show host Dr. Oz caused what some experts claimed was an unjustified panic over arsenic levels found in apple juice earlier this year, new research supports the TV show host’s concerns, prompting the FDA to take a closer look at regulating allowable levels of arsenic in food and beverages. http://dlvr.it/yvkTN
4 Thrifty Websites For Holiday Shopping
Black Friday and Cyber Monday may have already passed in their flurry of head-spinning discounts, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still score some major deals on holiday shopping.
And what better deal than the eco-satisfaction of purchasing an item bound for the landfill and reusing or repurposing it, especially if you can turn it into a one-of-a-kind gift for a loved one? Shopping...
Gift Idea: DIY White Chocolate Gingerbread...
When it comes to holiday gifts, few things go down better than a box of homemade truffles. They’re infinitely more thoughtful than storebought gifts — ironic, because you can make a huge batch to take care of your entire list in one day.
My all-time favorite truffle recipe is this dark ginger-spiced ganache with a white chocolate coating and a topping of crystallized ginger. This...
New Study: Herbicide in Water Dramatically Affects...
A new scientific study published in the journal _Environmental Research_ has found that women who regularly drink water that’s been contaminated with the most widely used herbicide, atrazine, are more prone to menstrual irregularities and low estrogen levels. http://dlvr.it/yt5nL
4 Gr(ate!) Outdoor Holiday Decorating Ideas
Who’d have thought two such unrelated things could mesh so well? That classic metal box grater you use to grate cheese, slice and dice veggies, and shave fruit peels into a nice zest can also easily revamp your outdoor holiday décor.
You can easily scrounge up enough cheese graters for your decorating needs at antique malls, thrift stores and flea markets. Plus, these salvaged shredders make...
Pardon? Monsanto GMO Ban Overturned in France
A ban on planting genetically modified crops in France was annulled last week, shocking a nation that prides itself on being known as the world’s gourmand with a focus on fresh and whole foods. The decision to overturn the ban came as the government cited a failure in being able to establish the reason for the rushed initial ban and the lack of any conclusive scientific evidence that...
Need A Lift or A Jolt? Natural Vs. Synthetic...
There’s no shortage of confusing information about whether or not caffeine is actually good for you. Recent studies have linked coffee consumption with a number of benefits like lower prostate risk for men and decreased risk of depression for women. _Camellia sinensis_—the tea plant—has also been proven effective in a number of health-giving properties including the presence of powerful...
